[Regulatory T cell network]

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is induced by myelin-specific autoimmune T cells that are characterized by a limited T cell receptor (TCR) heterogeneity. Recent studies demonstrate that regulatory T cells recognizing EAE-associated idiotopes and ergotope are involved in the auto-regulation of EAE. Anti-idiotypic T cells are rapidly induced after T cell vaccination or TCR peptide immunization, indicating that the anti-TCR response is a recall response and that natural anti-idiotypic network is established in the normal T cell repertoire. Anti-idiotypic T cells are induced not only by vaccination but as the consequence of EAE. In this review, I stress that prevention and treatment of autoimmune disease should aim at the re-organization of anti-idiotypic network.