The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 
 
 

Genetically determined target organ susceptibility in the pathogenesis of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis: aberrant expression of MHC-class II antigens and the possible role of virus.

Considerable controversy exists concerning the role of aberrant MHC-class II antigen expression in the pathogenesis of organ-specific auto-immune disease. Since Obese strain (OS) chickens are afflicted with a spontaneously occurring autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT), we have readdressed this pivotal question by investigating the chronical appearance of MHC-class II antigens on thyroid epithelial cells (TEC) of OS and normal healthy CB chickens before onset of overt clinical symptoms in the former. Among the candidates as potent inducers of aberrant MHC-class II antigen expression, interest in our studies focussed on the potential role of viruses in the development of SAT. Since aberrant MHC-class II antigen expression could prove to be an epiphenomenon of virally afflicted TEC, we determined 2,5-oligoadenylate synthetase and 2,5-oligoadenylatepolymer cytosol levels in both chicken lines. Our results indicate that the presence of infiltrating lymphocytes does not necessarily represent a prerequisite for the aberrant expression of MHC-class II antigens but coincides in most cases. However, the phenomenon seems to play a perpetuating rather than a causative role. Moreover, in support of a possible viral involvement, elevated levels of the 2,5-oligoadenylate synthetase and 2,5-oligomers could be demonstrated in TEC cytosol of OS chickens.[1]

References

 
WikiGenes - Universities