The arthritogenic properties of microbial antigens. Their implications in disease states.
Review
Overview
abstract
The sharing of antigenic determinants between host and microbe is a common event and new microbial-tissue cross-reactions are being recognized each year. Almost every human organ has been implicated as a possible target. The purpose of this article is to examine the arthritogenic properties of these microbial antigens and to explore the mechanisms by which they induce pathologic damage and disease.