[Autoimmune diseases and malignant lymphoma]

During the recent decade evidence accumulated, that autoantibodies exist with a high frequency in the normal B-cell repertoire. The autoreactive B-cell repertoire may undergo malignant transformation through the continuous challenge by autoantigen. Previous work on human paraproteins of plasmocytoma and immunocytoma has shown that a high proportion of paraproteins bind to self determinants. B-cell lymphoma may mimic the lesions in organotropic autoimmune disease, eg. Sjögren's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and coeliac disease by the neoplastic expansion of autoimmune receptors. Considerable evidence has been obtained, that the specific receptor interactions of the lymphoma with the autoantigen may be of functional significance. More precise knowledge on receptor specificities would permit new approaches to the understanding and manipulation of autoimmune disease and lymphoma.