Microbial products induce autoimmune disease by an IL-12-dependent pathway
Segal, B.M.; Klinman, D.M.; Shevach, E.M.
Journal of Immunology 158(11): 5087-5090
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 9164922 Document Number: 472274
The development and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases are associated with antecedent infectious illness. Microbial products such as LPS, bacterial DNA, or oligonucleotides containing an unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotide have cytokine modulating properties. These products converted quiescent myelin basic protein-specific T cells into effector cells capable of transferring experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The disease-promoting properties of the microbial products were solely dependent on their capacity to induce the production of IL-12.