Untitled

Abstract

The molecular mimicry hypothesis Molecular mimicry between host tissue structures and microbial antigens is postulated as mechanism for triggering of autoimmune disease by preceding infections. According to the mimicry hypothesis, due to the structural resemblance between microbial and some host antigens, antibodies and T cells that are induced by the antecedent infection and are initially directed against microbial antigens, not only destroy the invading pathogen but also attack host tissue (Albert and Inman, 1999). Molecular mimicry can be defined as presence of structurally similar epitopes in human and pathogen antigens, or in a wider sense it is sharing of antigens between hosts and microorganisms, leading