Therapy of Diseases Associated with Abnormal Immune Mechanisms

¹ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Organ-specific anti-tissue antibody may be elicited in an experimental animal by immunization with autologous tissue extracts and complete Freund's adjuvant. The antibodies produced are true auto-antibodies; they are elicited by and react with the animal's own tissue. Certain human diseases are associated with organspecific anti-tissue antibody. This antibody may arise as a consequence of exposure of the antibody forming mechanism to abnormally released tissue antigens, to haptene complexed with host tissue. Such antibody could also arise as a product of neoplastic, antibody formaing cells. Antitissue antibody may damage tissue directly, or indirectly after the formation of toxic antigen-antibody complexes. The antibodies may be secondary phenomena, associated with other disease processes. Host antibody to foreign material may elicit human disease, but it is uncertain, in humans, that disease results from an individual's immune response to his own tissue antigens.

Rest, physiotherapy and orthopedic and meticulous general medical care remain important in the treatment of patients with "auto-allergic" diseases. Salicylates, phenylbutazone, and corticosteroids have been used successfully to suppress inflammation of the "auto-allergic" diseases. More recently immunosuppressive drugs (alkylating agents, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine and aminopterin) have been used in "auto-allergic" diseases. These agents are highly toxic and their role in the therapy of these diseases remains to be determined.