[New approaches to the regulation of autoimmune disease]

Recent advancement in immunology has revealed that autoimmune diseases occur when T lymphocytes become activated on recognizing a self-antigen linked to the autologous class II molecule of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The resulting complex of antigen, MHC, and T cell receptor could be a target for treatment of autoimmune disease. This approach is now being studied in animal models. Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease directed against retinal proteins and has been studied as a model for human uveitis. In Lewis rats, uveitogenic peptides and uveitogenic T cell receptor families have been detected. It is a first step toward developing specific immunotherapy. This paper describes a general outline of the steps of T cell activation and ways of suppression of autoimmune diseases by the modulation of these steps, especially in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.