Carbohydrate mimicry: a new paradigm of autoimmune diseases.
Molecular mimicry of microbial components by self components is thought to be the mechanism that accounts for the antigen and tissue specificity of immune responses in post-infectious autoimmune diseases. Little direct evidence exists, and research in this area has focused principally on T cell mediated anti-peptide responses, rather than on humoral responses to carbohydrate structures. Guillain-Barré syndrome, the most frequent cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis, sometimes occurs after Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. Recent studies have revealed that carbohydrate mimicry of the bacterial lipo-oligosaccharide by the human ganglioside is an important cause of the syndrome. This new concept that carbohydrate mimicry can cause an autoimmune disease provides a clue to inducing the resolution of pathogenesis of other immune-mediated diseases.
Yuki
Nobuhiro
N
Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan. yuki@dokkyomed.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D018448:Models, Immunological; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011817:Rabbits
D001324:Autoantigens; D005732:Gangliosides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C023023:lipid-linked oligosaccharides