| Title | Control of autoimmunity by "epitope theft". |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2005 |
| Authors | Kranc KR, Taylor AM, Willcox N, Fugger L |
| Journal | Trends Mol Med |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 1-4 |
| Date Published | 2005 Jan |
| ISSN | 1471-4914 |
| Keywords | Animals, Antigen-Presenting Cells, Antigens, CD8, Autoimmune Diseases, Autoimmunity, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I, Humans, Immunodominant Epitopes, Multiple Sclerosis, T-Lymphocytes |
| Abstract | We all possess T cells with autoaggressive potential. Knowledge of their regulation is crucial for elucidating pathogenetic pathways and designing effective treatments for autoimmune diseases. A novel mechanism of T-cell silencing--in an autoimmune model--has recently been identified and is termed "epitope theft". The "thieves" are naive CD8+ T cells, which apparently "steal" MHC-class-I-antigen complexes from antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The deprived APCs can no longer activate other potentially pathogenic naive CD8+ T cells that are specific for the same epitope. This phenomenon is a previously unrecognized antigen-specific mode of protection against autoimmunity. |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.molmed.2004.11.002 |
| Alternate Journal | Trends Mol Med |
| PubMed ID | 15649815 |
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