The role of autoantigen in autoimmunity.

Autoimmunity in disease is driven by autoantigen. Cell surface molecules may stimulate autoreactive T-helpers if class II MHC is expressed; special factors may predispose to the ease of class II induction. Soluble autoantigens may be focused by primed B cells and processed for presentation to T cells. Autoantigenicity may be influenced by metabolic events: (a) Poorly iodinated thyroglobulin does not induce thyroiditis, and (b) IgG in rheumatoid arthritis has galactose deficient Fc oligosaccharides. Glycosylation defects may prove to have wide implications.