Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation VIII : Autoimmunity 2000 and Beyond

Advances in biochemistry, cell biology, genome-wide mutagenesis - coupled with molecular technology, including gene microarray and transgenic and knock-out animals - have been instrumental in understanding the cellular processes and molecular pathways of self-tolerance and autoimmune diseases. The molecular definition of these pathways and processes has led to novel treatments for certain auto-immune diseases that are based on the pathogenesis of diseases rather than on broad-spectrum immunosuppression. This book reviews many of these current developments and proposes future novel approaches for understanding the pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases and designing novel therapy. This book covers three major areas of auto-immunity: the basic mechanisms of immunological tolerance, pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases, and some novel therapies. This book should be useful for immunologists, molecular biologists, rheumatologists, and clinical scientists. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Delineation of the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Using Murine Models....Pages 1-6 Factors Contributing to Autoimmune Disease....Pages 7-19 Control of Autoimmunity by Regulatory T Cells....Pages 21-32 Autoimmunity, Self-Tolerance and Immune Homeostasis: From Whole Animal Phenotypes to Molecular Pathways....Pages 33-40 Peripheral Tolerance and Organ Specific Autoimmunity....Pages 41-48 Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: Types I, II and Beyond....Pages 49-57 The Role of MHC Class II Molecules in the Pathogenesis and Prevention of Type I Diabetes....Pages 59-66 Control of Autoreactive T Cell Activation by Immunoregulatory T Cells (Art)....Pages 67-77 Immune Tolerance and the Nervous System....Pages 79-98 Functional Role of Epitope Spreading in the Chronic Pathogenesis of Autoimmune and Virus-Induced Demyelinating Diseases....Pages 99-107 Multiple Sclerosis and Gene Expression Profiling....Pages 109-112 Treatment of Autoimmunity by Inhibition of T Cell Costimulation....Pages 113-117 Cytokine Blockade in Rheumatoid Arthritis....Pages 119-127 Back Matter....Pages 129-136