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      Preventative and therapeutic vaccination to combat an experimental autoimmune kidney disease

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          Abstract

          We describe a new vaccination method called modified vaccination technique (MVT). The technique is able to achieve downregulation of pathogenic autoimmune events leading to a chronic progressive disorder in rats called slowly progressive Heymann nephritis. Downregulation of immunopathological events is achieved by injections of immune complex (IC) made up of the target native antigen (ag) and specific naturally occurring immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody (ab) directed against it. Repeated injections of IC maintain high levels of specific circulating IgM autoantibodies (aabs) against the kidney ag. The developing physiologic IgM aabs assist in the catabolism of both modified and unmodified renal ags from the circulation. No disease-causing renal ags in the circulation results in no stimulation of pathogenic immunoglobulin G aab producing cell lines. Such specific targeted therapy leads to termination of disease-causing processes and reestablishment of tolerance. The MVT can be employed both prophylactically and therapeutically with equal effectiveness. A redirected immune response is achieved by specifically stimulating the animals’ own IgM-producing cell lines with the injected ICs, resulting in a natural cure. Such ICs are nontoxic and nonirritant and cause no side effects. We surmise that the MVT, employing the appropriate components in each instance, can also be used to treat human ailments.

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          Most cited references76

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          Amino acid homology between the encephalitogenic site of myelin basic protein and virus: mechanism for autoimmunity.

          Amino acid sequence homology was found between viral and host encephalitogenic protein. Immune responses were then generated in rabbits by using the viral peptide that cross-reacts with the self protein. Mononuclear cell infiltration was observed in the central nervous systems of animals immunized with the viral peptide. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a host protein whose encephalitogenic site of ten amino acids induces experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. By computer analysis, hepatitis B virus polymerase (HBVP) was found to share six consecutive amino acids with the encephalitogenic site of rabbit MBP. Rabbits given injections of a selected eight- or ten-amino acid peptide from HBVP made antibody that reacted with the predetermined sequences of HBVP and also with native MBP. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the immunized rabbits proliferated when incubated with either MBP or HBVP. Central nervous system tissue taken from these rabbits had a histologic picture reminiscent of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Thus, viral infection may trigger the production of antibodies and mononuclear cells that cross-react with self proteins by a mechanism termed molecular mimicry. Tissue injury from the resultant autoallergic event can take place in the absence of the infectious virus that initiated the immune response.
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            Natural autoantibodies.

            Autoantibodies of the IgM, IgG and IgA classes, reactive with a variety of serum proteins, cell surface structures and intracellular structures, are 'naturally' found in all normal individuals. Present in human cord blood and in 'antigen-free' mice, their variable-region repertoire is selected by antigenic structures in the body and remains conserved throughout life. Encoded by germline genes with no, or few, mutations, natural autoantibodies are characteristically 'multireactive' and do not undergo affinity maturation in normal individuals. Natural autoantibodies may participate in a variety of physiological activities, from immune regulation, homeostasis and repertoire selection, to resistance to infections, transport and functional modulation of biologically active molecules.
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              Natural autoantibodies: from 'horror autotoxicus' to 'gnothi seauton'.

              S Avrameas (1991)
              The immune system of normal unimmunized animals is characterized by the presence of B cells synthesizing and secreting mainly polyreactive, but also monoreactive, IgM and IgG natural antibodies that can react with a variety of self constituents. These antibodies, like the autoantibodies appearing in several immunopathological states, use the same genetic elements as the antibodies directed against environmental antigens, and seem to be encoded by unmutated germ-line genes. Accumulating evidence indicates that these natural auto-antibodies exert various biological roles, both related and unrelated to the immune system. In this article, Stratis Avrameas proposes that natural auto-antibodies, by interacting with the large number of self constituents present in an organism, establish an extensive dynamic network that contributes to the general homeostasis of the organism.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Biologics
                Biologics: Targets & Therapy
                Biologics : Targets & Therapy
                Dove Medical Press
                1177-5475
                1177-5491
                March 2007
                March 2007
                : 1
                : 1
                : 59-68
                Affiliations
                [1 ] Department of Surgery, University of Calgary Health Sciences Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
                [2 ] Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
                Author notes
                Correspondence: Arpad Z Barabas, Department of Surgery, 2808 Health Sciences Centre, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1, Tel +1 403 220 8901; Fax +1 403 270 8795; Email barabas@ 123456ucalgary.ca
                Article
                btt-1-59
                2721341
                19707349
                fc4670f0-d3b4-4109-b0b9-b389c5191266
                © 2007 Dove Medical Press Limited. All rights reserved
                History
                Categories
                Opinion

                therapeutic,immune complex,antibody information transfer,autoimmune disease,prophylactic,modified vaccination technique

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