Autoimmunity-which affects up to 10% of the world's population-can damage nearly every tissue or cell type of the human body with greatly debilitating or fatal results. In Autoimmunity: Methods and Protocols, expert medical researchers describe in step-by-step detail molecular techniques and in vitro/in vivo model systems for discovering the causes of autoimmunity, as well as how best it may be regulated. The methods to assess the immunological and biochemical pathways relevant for pathogenesis include identifying susceptibility genes, intercellular signaling via cytokines, intracellular signaling through the T-cell receptor, signal processing via protein kinases, identification and enumeration of antigen-specific T cells and autoantibodies, and the dysregulation of apoptosis and its role in modification of self-antigens. Additional protocols serve to establish the presence of and assess inflammatory arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, myocarditis, thyroiditis, scleroderma, uveitis, and vitiligo. These methods can be used to assess the genetic, immunological, and biochemical parameters underlying spontaneous or exogenous antigen-induced diseases. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine(TM) series format, each one offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Innovative and easy to follow, Autoimmunity: Methods and Protocols offers today's investigators a cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible methods for establishing and interrogating human and animal models of autoimmune diseases.