Immunologic states of autoimmune diseases

Immunol Res. 2005;33(1):23-34. doi: 10.1385/IR:33:1:023.

Abstract

The etiology and immunologic states of autoimmune diseases have mainly been discussed without consideration of extrathymic T cells, which exist in the liver, intestine, and excretion glands. Because extrathymic T cells are autoreactive and are often simultaneously activated along with autoantibody-producing B-1 cells, these extrathymic T cells and B-1 cells should be introduced when considering the immunologic states of autoimmune diseases. The immunologic states of autoimmune diseases resemble those of aging, chronic GVH disease, and malarial infection. Namely, under all these conditions, conventional T and B cells are rather suppressed concomitant with thymic atrophy or involution. In contrast, extrathymic T cells and B-1 cells are inversely activated at this time. These facts suggest that the immunologic states of autoimmune diseases should be reevaluated by introducing the concept of extrathymic T cells and autoantibody-producing B-1 cells, which might be primordial lymphocytes in phylogeny.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / pathology