MOLECULAR MIMICRY BETWEEN NON-SELF, MODIFIED SELF AND SELF IN AUTOIMMUNITY

Molecular mimicry, the presence of shared epitopes between foreign and self antigens is common both at the B and T cell level. That it only rarely leads to a cross-reactive autoimmune response is a testimony to the effectiveness of the immune system in regulating the immune respo nse and avoiding harmful self-reactivity. However, despite this regula tion, various auto-immune-mediated diseases have been associated with molecular mimicry. The concept of molecular mimicry between foreign an d self antigen as well as between self and modified self epitopes is r eviewed and the relevance of these phenomena for the initiation of aut oimmune diseases is discussed.