Autoimmunity anti-nuclear antibodies

Tab. 33.1 Differentiation of autoimmune liver diseases and their overlap syndromes (s. tab. 5.20) (s. p. 658). (AHA = anti-histone antibody anti-GOR = anti-specific nuclear antigen in HCV) (see text for other abbreviations). —/(+) = no or occasional slight increase...

Figure 3. Effects of heavy metals (Hg andAu) on Immune cells. Hg was described as able to interact with the nuclear antigen fibrillarin which was assumed to cause a T-cell response against this modified autoantigen. True autoreactive T-ceiis specific for the native antigen were detected in a second time. Hg was shown to induce the expression of a normally cryptic epitope of RNAse A leading to the activation of specific T-cells. However the relevance of this mechanism in terms of induction of autoimmunity has not been demonstrated. Hg orAu have also been shown to poiyctonaity activate T-cells mimicking the effects of stimulation with anti-TCR antibodies. This results in an increase in intracellular Ca concentration, MAP kinase activation and cytokine expression.

Savige JA, Chang L, Horn S, et al. Anti-nuclear, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies in HIV-infected individuals. Autoimmunity 1994 18 205-211. 

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A chronic, remitting-relapsing inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems, such as the skin, joints, serosal membranes, kidneys, blood cells, and central nervous system. The disease is very heterogeneous in clinical expression and serological factors. Autoantibodies directed against nuclear components ( - antinuclear antibodies) are typically detected. Anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, and antiphospholipid antibodies are used as classification criteria. 

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