Autosensitization Cell Membrane Diseases: A Unifying Concept of Autoimmune Diseases, Collagen Diseases, Neuromyopathies and Cancer

Abstract

It is proposed that the term "autosensitization cell membrane (ACM) diseases" be applied to a conglomerate of disorders in which there apparently is a state of autosensitization to common glycolipid plasma membrane (GPM) antigens. Except for cancer, all the other ACM diseases may be the result of this autosensitization to GPM antigens. These disorders are subdivided on the basis of the cell source of GPM, whether from erythrocytes as in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, from endothelial cells as in collagen diseases, from epithelial cells as in organ-specific immune diseases, or from nerve cells as in neuromyopathies. In cancer, two types of autosensitization occur. The first is autosensitization t o GPM originating from damaged normal cells adjoining cancer cells. The second is autosensitization to cancer-specific tumour polysaccharide substance (TPS) antigens originating in the cancer cells themselves. Evidence for this hypothesis is presented. THE COMMON ANTIGENA glycolipid substance present as a component of certain cell membranes is apparently the common antigen that gives rise to auto-