The Gastric H/K-ATPase: The Principle Target in Autoimmune Gastritis

Abstract

The immune system is programmed to defend the body against invading microbes by recognising antigens displayed on the surface of the organisms. At the same time, the immune system should not respond to “self” antigens. This ability to discriminate between “foreign” and “self” is known as immunological tolerance. Autoimmune disease develops when “tolerance” to self antigens breaks down. Currently, little is known about how tolerance can be broken, although it is generally thought that this may occur in genetically susceptible individuals exposed to certain environmental “triggers”. Furthermore, little is known about the early events which initiate the immune response to self antigens and in p..