Neuroautoimmunity: pathogenic implications for Alzheimer's disease.

Immune factors such as cellular immunity, autoimmunity, and inflammation may play a pathogenic role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder. Based on immunologic dysregulation in many patients, a neuroautoimmunity (NAI) model is proposed which suggested a CD8+ cell-mediated mechanism (activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes); CD4+ suppressor/inducer (2H4+) cells may also be involved. Antibrain antibodies may contribute through a cell-specific autoimmune assault leading to neurodegeneration of the AD type. Thus, a cell-mediated autoimmune response against brain antigens may explain the immune subset of AD.