Abstract
In the immune system, many tolerance checkpoints exist to prevent self-antigens from stimulating the relentless growth of self-reactive B and T lymphocytes. The genes and molecular pathways underpinning these checkpoints overlap with those involved in tumor suppression. As with an inherited predisposition to cancer, inherited defects in self-tolerance genes typically precipitate autoimmune disease stochastically after a latent phase. Multiple mutations, inherited and somatic, may be needed before a self-reactive clone bypasses sequential tolerance checkpoints resulting in the emergence of autoimmune disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 25-35 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Cell |
Volume | 130 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Jul 2007 |