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Molecular mimicry and multiple sclerosis: Degenerate T‐cell recognition and the induction of autoimmunity
Author(s) -
Gran Bruno,
Hemmer Bernhard,
Vergelli Marco,
McFarland Henry F.,
Martin Roland
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8249(199905)45:5<559::aid-ana3>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - molecular mimicry , autoimmunity , mimicry , antigen , biology , immunology , multiple sclerosis , t cell , t cell receptor , myelin , neuroscience , immune system , central nervous system , ecology
Various mechanisms have been proposed for the initiation of autoimmune responses by autoreactive T‐cell clones. One of these, the molecular mimicry hypothesis, postulates that myelin‐reactive T‐cell clones are activated by foreign antigens. Until recently, sequence homology between self‐ and foreign antigens was considered necessary for cross‐recognition to occur in multiple sclerosis. This article reviews current progress in T‐cell receptor immunology that led to modify this view and proposes a role for degenerate T‐cell antigen recognition in the induction of autoimmunity. Ann Neurol 1999;45:559–567