Structural considerations of autoantibodies

The mechanisms responsible for peptide-induced immunosuppression lupus-prone BWF1 mice were determined to be mediated via recognition by T cells, although the response was peptide-specific, as some accelerated the autoimmune response. Furthermore, this was associated with suppression of IFN-g and IL-4 in serum and increased TGF-b. Recent isolation of peptide-specific T cells should be helpful in sorting out the mechanisms responsible for these events. In separate studies, it was demonstrated that an anti-DNA antibody that enters cells is able to transport proteins linked to it, supporting the possibility that this system can be used as a therapeutic modality to modify specific cellular activities.