Autoimmunity

The Immune system exists as a tightly controlled balance between tolerance to self antigens and response to those of foreign pathogens. Autoreactive T and B lymphocytes are present within healthy individuals, tightly held in check by homeostatic mechanisms. Breakdown of these regulatory safeguards results in a catastrophic immune response to tissues and organs of the body, giving rise to a wide spectrum of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune thyroiditis. AUTOIMMUNITY: PHYSIOLOGY AND DISEASE presents a thorough and coherent analysis of all aspects of autoreactivity in normal healthy individuals and in sufferers of autoimmune diseases. Contributions from recognized experts in both basic and clinical Immunology research provide the reader with detailed descriptions of how the Immune system is regulated at the level of B and T lymphocytes; the generation and breakdown of tolerance to self antigens; the presence and significance of naturally occurring autoantibodies and autoreactive T and B lymphocytes; the consequences and underlying mechanisms of aberrant responses to self antigens in key autoimmune disorders. Animal models for autoimmune disorders, which play a significant role in the understanding of the breakdown of the normal balance of the immune system, are also covered. This comprehensive and timely volume will be a vital source not only for researchers and clinicians involved in the study, diagnosis, and management of autoimmune diseases, but for all those interested in the complex function and regulation of the Immune system.