title: Naturally occurring B-cell autoreactivity: a critical overview.
abstract: In over one century of research in immunology marked progress in the scientific knowledge and the implications derived from it has been made. At the same time several contradictory and seemingly opposing results have been obtained. The term autoimmunity is still conceived by many as a term directly related to an immunopathological state. However, strong evidence exist that not only the immune system is able to recognize self-constituents, but it appears also that this property is essential for homeostasis. Direct or indirect alterations of such self-recognition properties of the immune system may contribute to pathology. In this review, the most recent advances in the field of naturally occurring B-cell autoreactivity in health as well as in disease are presented and discussed.
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 M. Asias, 11527 Athens, Greece. avrameasstratis@yahoo.fr
authors: Stratis
authors: S
authors: Avrameas
authors: Therese
authors: T
authors: Ternynck
authors: Ioannis A
authors: IA
authors: Tsonis
authors: Peggy
authors: P
authors: Lymberi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens