title: Infections, antigen-presenting cells, T cells, and immune tolerance: their role in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: In the last 20 years, many publications have shed new light on the complex immunopathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura. They are associated with 3 interrelated areas of environmental autoimmunity, for example, infectious influences, antigen-presenting cell (APC) function, and T-cell abnormalities, particularly tolerance induction. This article highlights the recent literature and argues that infectious agents and platelets can significantly modulate APCs, which create an environment that dysregulates autoreactive T cells, leading to the production of autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada. semplej@smh.toronto.on.ca
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Semple
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*