George S. Eisenbarth
University of Colorado

About this Book

Organ specific autoimmune disorders as a group are responsible for a major portion of all debilitating and at times life threatening chronic diseases. Over the past decade more has been learned concerning the molecular pathogenesis of these disorders than during the past 100 years. This includes identification of genes and genetic loci responsible for susceptibility, specific molecules whose ingestion or whose endogenous exposure (e.g. oncogenic autoimmunity) trigger disease, cloning of target autoantigens, identification of molecular pathways of pathogenesis, and discovery particularly in animal models of antigen specific therapies. This book brings together under an integrated theme, international experts who have contributed to the study of both specific autoimmune disorders and often the study of multiple organ specific autoimmune diseases. Both basic researchers and clinical investigators have contributed to the book and the current and future impact upon clinical care of our improving understanding of disease pathogenesis is highlighted. It also includes the diagnosis and prediction of organ specific autoimmune diseases with assay based upon cloned target autoantigens. The future will test our ability to prevent or ameliorate disease with these same molecules. In the study of the multiple diseases reviewed it is hoped that many of the roads will lead to the same destination, namely molecular disease prevention and it is hoped that the current book will help in reaching this goal.

Table of Contents

Immunobiology of Autoimmunity

Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type I (APECED)

Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type II

Oncogenic Autoimmunity

Celiac Disease

Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of the Autoimmune

Thyroid Disease

Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome (IAS, Hirata Disease)

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Etiopathogenesis of Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

Multiple Sclerosis

Autoimmune Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Neuropathy

Ocular Autoimmunity