title: Regaining tolerance to a self-antigen by the modified vaccination technique.
abstract: Autoimmune diseases are initiated and maintained by complex immunopathological processes in environmental and genetic factor predisposed patients. In certain autoimmune diseases, the etiologies and pathogenesis of the conditions are quite well understood; yet in others, controversy surrounds as to why and how auto-injurious processes start. Clinical and laboratory examinations reasonably well define the state of progression/remission of an autoimmune disease and allow treatment according to observed findings. However, none of the presently employed treatment options are specific. In fact, they are all nonspecific in their actions and have undesirable side effects. Over the years, experiments carried out in animals have shed light on the complex immunopathological processes which contribute to disease development and progression. At least one experimental autoimmune kidney disease-which we shall describe-helps to understand how pathogenic autoimmune responses can be terminated specifically, without side effects. Since the new vaccination method-that we call modified vaccination technique-was successfully implemented in an experimental autoimmune disease model called slowly progressive Heymann nephritis for the termination of pathogenic immune responses by a target antigen-specific treatment modality, we shall highlight its use in providing insight to physicians and autoimmunologists for its future implementation in human autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 2808 Health Sciences Centre, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada, barabas@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Arpad Zsigmond
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Barabas
authors.forename: Chad Douglas
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafreniere
authors.forename: Donald Mackay
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens