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[Autoimmune diseases]
1Departement Pathologie, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Many autoimmune diseases may be immunopathologies caused by unknown infections. Identifying the infectious trigger could reclassify these conditions as immunopathological rather than autoimmune.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogenesis
Context:
- The causes of most autoimmune diseases remain unknown.
- T cell-mediated diseases are a significant subset of autoimmune conditions.
Purpose:
- To propose a unifying hypothesis for the etiology of autoimmune diseases.
- To suggest that unrecognized infectious agents trigger these conditions.
Summary:
- This review posits that autoimmune diseases, especially T cell-dependent ones, might be immunopathologies initiated by unidentified infectious agents.
- When the causative agent is known, the condition is termed immunopathological; if unknown, it is labeled autoimmune.
Impact:
- This perspective could shift research focus towards identifying infectious triggers for autoimmune diseases.
- It offers a new framework for understanding and potentially treating a broad range of immune-mediated disorders.
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