The Mechanisms of Autoimmune Response: Insights into an Enigmatic Repertoire

Several possible mechanisms of autoimmune response leading to the development of autoimmune diseases are discussed briefly herein. Failure of both B and T sell tolerance, lack of suppressor T cell functions, an apoptosis defect, increased expression of superantigens, adverse effects of cytokines and possible microbial infections have all been proposed as the mechanisms of autoimmune response. Yet, none of the proposed mechanisms seems to explain satisfactorily and exclusively the development of a single autoimmune disease, suggesting that the diseases may involve complex mechanisms rather than due to a single pathway. Whether findings based upon the animal models can be extrapolated in humans remains also to be investigated further, since it would provide a direction for future bimodal therapy. Keywords: Immunoregulation, autoimmunity, autoimmune diseases. Wihaskoro Sosroseno, Endang Herminajeng, Department Dental Public Health