AN EVOLUTION-BASED HYPOTHESIS ON THE ORIGIN AND MECHANISMS OF AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE

The pathogenesis of autoimmune disease remains an enigma. Here, the co ndition is analysed from an evolutionary standpoint, and the thesis de veloped that viruses, in particular retroviruses, are important to our evolution, and that their inappropriate re-expression by repetitive ( ? ischaemic) cell damage in individuals of appropriate major histocomp atibility type, leads to autoimmune disease. Such a view requires a sl ight adjustment to traditional ways of seeing Darwinian evolution, but one which makes real sense of the MHC-restricted nature of the adapti ve immune response.