A Few Autoreactive Cells in an Autoimmune Infiltrate Control a Vast Population of Nonspecific Cells: A Tale of Smart Bombs and the Infantry
Abstract
Inflammatory infiltrates in tissue-specific autoimmune disease comprise a collection of T cells with specificity for an antigen in the target organ. These specific cells recruit a population of nonspecific T cells and macrophages. The rare tissue-specific T cells in the infiltrate have the capacity to regulate both the influx and the efflux of cells from the tissue. Administration of an altered peptide ligand for the specific T cell which triggers autoimmunity can lead to the regression of the entire inflammatory ensemble in a few hours. Interleukin 4 is a critical cytokine involved in the regression of the inflammatory infiltrate.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- March 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.93.6.2253
- Bibcode:
- 1996PNAS...93.2253S