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Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smilek, DE; St Clair, EW
Published in: F1000Prime Rep
2015

Despite recent advances in delineating the pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune disease, the puzzle that reveals the true picture of these diverse immunological disorders is yet to be solved. We know that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci as well as many different genetic susceptibility loci with relatively small effect sizes predispose to various autoimmune diseases and that environmental factors are involved in triggering disease. Models for mechanisms of disease become increasingly complex as relationships between components of both the adaptive and innate immune systems are untangled at the molecular level. In this article, we pose some of the important questions about autoimmunity where the answers will advance our understanding of disease pathogenesis and improve the rational design of novel therapies. How is autoimmunity triggered, and what components of the immune response drive the clinical manifestations of disease? What determines whether a genetically predisposed individual will develop an autoimmune disease? Is restoring immune tolerance the secret to finding cures for autoimmune disease? Current research efforts seek answers to these big questions.

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Published In

F1000Prime Rep

DOI

ISSN

2051-7599

Publication Date

2015

Volume

7

Start / End Page

17

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Smilek, D. E., & St Clair, E. W. (2015). Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions. F1000Prime Rep, 7, 17. https://doi.org/10.12703/P7-17
Smilek, Dawn E., and E William St Clair. “Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions.F1000Prime Rep 7 (2015): 17. https://doi.org/10.12703/P7-17.
Smilek DE, St Clair EW. Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions. F1000Prime Rep. 2015;7:17.
Smilek, Dawn E., and E. William St Clair. “Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions.F1000Prime Rep, vol. 7, 2015, p. 17. Pubmed, doi:10.12703/P7-17.
Smilek DE, St Clair EW. Solving the puzzle of autoimmunity: critical questions. F1000Prime Rep. 2015;7:17.

Published In

F1000Prime Rep

DOI

ISSN

2051-7599

Publication Date

2015

Volume

7

Start / End Page

17

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences