Four Aspects of Autoimmunity and How to Regain Tolerance to Self From an Autoimmune Disease Utilizing the Modified Vaccination Technique

Abstract

The cells of the immune system are exposed to two broad types of antigenic challenges – challenges from the external environment (bacteria, viruses, etc.), and challenges from the internal environment of the host (from both normal and abnormal self). The immune system functions throughout life to preserve the integrity of the organism, allowing its various organs and systems to carry out their intended functions, and maintaining normal health. The cells of the immune system have intimate knowledge of self and non-self. Normal self is allowed to live and function, whereas abnormal self or non-self, e.g. degraded cellular products or abnormal cells, are recognized as non-self and removed by the cells and products of the immune system and processed into reusable small MW peptides (Manson et al., 2005; Quartier et al., 2005; Wermeling et al., 2009). Occasionally, modified self will affect the normally functioning immune system and stimulate a pathogenic immune response causing an autoimmune disease (Barabas et al., 2004c; Heymann et al., 1959). In other instances, because of the minimal antigenicity of cancer specific antigens (ags) on cancer cell surfaces, cancer is not recognized as non-self and is allowed to grow and cause harm (Berinstein, 2007; Engelhard et al., 2002). The question of how to correct immunological mishaps that not only compromise the normal functioning of an affected organ but can even threaten the life of the host has engaged numerous investigators in the search for curative solutions. So far the options available for treating ailments caused by autoimmune disorders have been mainly limited to drugs (Cattran, 1988; Matsukawa et al., 1992; Penny et al., 1998), which in general have undesirably over-broad effects. Yet there are encouraging signs that targeted, specific cures might be achieved by immunological means (Andreakos et al., 2002; Berinstein, 2007;