High avidity autoreactive T cells with a low signalling capacity through the T-cell receptor: central to rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis?
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* Corresponding author: Ranjeny Thomas r.thomas1@uq.edu.au
1 Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
2 The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, 1 Aspenlea Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8LH, UK
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008, 10:210 doi:10.1186/ar2446
Published: 24 July 2008Abstract
Self-reactive T cells with low signalling capacity through the T-cell receptor were recently observed in the SKG mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and have been linked to a spontaneous mutation in the ZAP-70 signal transduction molecule. Here we hypothesize that similar mechanisms also drive RA, associated with an abnormal innate and adaptive immune response driven by nuclear factor-κB activation and tumour necrosis factor secretion. Similar to the essential role played by pathogens in SKG mice, we propose that HLA-associated immunity to chronic viral infection is a key factor in the immune dysregulation and joint inflammation that characterize RA.