Determinant spreading and the dynamics of the autoimmune T-cell repertoire

Abstract

In this article the authors propose a dynamic model of autoimmunity with T-cell recruitment and selection leading to changes in the specificity of the anti-self response during the course of disease. They argue that these changes are due to alterations in self-antigen presentation that lead to the display of previously cryptic self-determinants. Mechanisms that could underlie this differential self-presentation are proposed.