Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent episodes of demyelination and axonal lesion mediated by CD4+ T cells with a proinflammatory T helper (Th)1 and Th17 phenotypes, macrophages, and soluble inflammatory mediators. The overactive pro-inflammatory Th1 cells and clonal expansion of B cells initiate an inflammatory cascade with several cellular and molecular i...

The number of B cells producing antibodies reactive with any of seven autoantigens or two conventional antigens was compared at the single-cell level to the total number of Ig-secreting B cells present in the spleens of NZB, MRL lpr/lpr, and BXSB autoimmune mice. The proportion of lymphocytes producing antibodies of each specificity, expressed as a percentage of the total B cell repertoire, was...

The automimmune liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterised by serum autoantibodies directed at mitochondrial and nuclear antigens (seen in most patients and a subset of patients, respectively). The antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) characteristic of PBC are directed at members of the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase components of multienzyme complexes; in particular, the E2 and E3 b...