Autoimmune ovarian disease: Mechanism of induction and prevention

Research on murine autoimmune ovarian disease (AOD) models suggests that th e following sequence of events operate in prevention and induction of AOD. Potentially pathogenic T cells for oocyte antigens that exist in normal mic e are kept in check by regulatory CD25(+) T cells. Oocyte-specific pathogen ic T cells are activated when the regulation is lost, as after day 3 thymec tomy, or when T cells are stimulated through molecular mimicry. Activated, proinflammatory T cells induce interstitial ovarian inflammation without di sruption in ovarian function. Activated T cells also help B cells that resp ond to endogenous oocyte antigens, to produce oocyte autoantibodies of dive rsified specificities. Autoantibodies, nonpathogenic in themselves, retarge t T cell-mediated inflammation to ovarian follicles resulting in ovarian at rophy and ovarian failure. Future studies should determine the applicabilit y of these findings to human ovarian autoimmunity. (J Soc Gynecol Investig 2001;8:S49-S51) Copyright (C) 2001 by the Society for Gynecologic Investiga tion.