Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation VIII Autoimmunity 2000 and Beyond

Advances in biochemistry, cell biology, genome-wide mutagenesis - coupled with molecular technology, including gene microarray and transgenic and knock-out animals - have been instrumental in understanding the cellular processes and molecular pathways of self-tolerance and autoimmune diseases. The molecular definition of these pathways and processes has led to novel treatments for certain auto-immune diseases that are based on the pathogenesis of diseases rather than on broad-spectrum immunosuppression. This book reviews many of these current developments and proposes future novel approaches for understanding the pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases and designing novel therapy. This book covers three major areas of auto-immunity: the basic mechanisms of immunological tolerance, pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases, and some novel therapies.
This book should be useful for immunologists, molecular biologists, rheumatologists, and clinical scientists.

Basic Mechanisms.- Delineation of the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Using Murine Models.- Factors Contributing to Autoimmune Disease.- Control of Autoimmunity by Regulatory T Cells.- Autoimmunity, Self-Tolerance, and Immune Homeostasis: From Whole Animal Phenotypes to Molecular Pathways.- Peripheral Tolerance and Organ Specific Autoimmunity.- Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: Types I, II, and Beyond.- Pathogenesis.- The Role of MHC Class II Molecules in the Pathogenesis and Prevention of Type I Diabetes.- Control of Autoreactive T Cell Activation by Immunoregulatory T Cells.- Immune Tolerance and The Nervous System.- Functional Role of Epitope Spreading in the Chronic Pathogenesis of Autoimmune and Virus-Induced Demyelinating Diseases.- Therapy.- Multiple Sclerosis and Gene Expression Profiling.- Treatment of Autoimmunity by Inhibition of T Cell Costimulation.- Cytokine Blockade in Rheumatoid Arthritis.