HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS AND ARTHRITIS - NEW READERS START HERE

The possible roles of heat shock proteins in the pathogenesis of infla mmatory arthritis have been discussed for a number of years, and inves tigated intensively in both animal models and human disease. This revi ew surveys evidence which has pointed, on the one hand, to hsp as targ ets of a pathogenic immune response, and on the other, to an immunoreg ulatory role for T cell recognition of self hsp, The extent to which f indings in experimental animals have led to further insights applicabl e to human disease is also emphasised.