As long as pathogenic IgG aabs are present in the circulation, Nutlin-3 manufacturer the chronic progressive autoimmune disease process will continue. The ultimate purpose of pathogenic IgG aabs is to completely eliminate the target aag containing organ/cells etc. (as if they were exogenous source ag). In an autoimmune disease such an autoimmune response is harmful. However, pathogenic IgG aab response is beneficial when such immune events are directed against an unwanted or non-self group of cells, namely cancer cells. In such an instance, elimination of harmful cells by a beneficially functioning immune system is considered to be a lifesaving

event. The presence of non-pathogenic IgM aabs in the circulation is always non-tissue-damaging [14, 15, 17, 53–56]. The primary function of IgM aabs is to assist in a complement-dependent removal of released intracytoplasmic components from damaged cells (e.g. by pathogenic aabs in autoimmune diseases or by ischaemia in cancer at the site of tumour growth) or from cells at the end of their life span [18, 19, 57]. Through this physiological process, toxic accumulation or chemical alteration of these components is prevented. Just like pathogenic IgG aabs, the non-pathogenic IgM aabs are also able to cross react with chemically Selleckchem BGJ398 or otherwise modified self ag [44, 58]. This ability

of the IgM aab prevents or greatly reduces the chances of acquiring an autoimmune disease [59]. For example, during an autoimmune disease IgM aabs are able to remove (i.e. neutralize) not only the self ag (that initiated and maintained its production), Methocarbamol but through cross reactivity the modified self (i.e. disease causing) ag as well. As a result, specific IgM aabs play a major role in the reduction of pathogenic IgG aab causing injuries. The ultimate goal of non-pathogenic IgM aabs – through the physiological autoimmune network activity – is to regain and maintain normalcy/tolerance to self. Another important

role of naturally occurring IgM abs is to protect against infection [17]. Polyreactive IgM abs are directed against pathogens and assist in the early phase elimination of disease causing organisms. There are numerous vaccines capable of preventing exogenous ag–initiated diseases (such as measles, tetanus, rubella, pertussis, etc.). However, there is no active vaccination protocol that is able to provide therapeutic outcomes following the establishment of the infectious or contagious disease in the human host. A recently employed therapeutic vaccination protocol – using a DNA vaccine – in experimental animals with established tuberculosis induced effective bactericidal immunity associated with reduced pathology. It is expected that a DNA vaccine combined with chemotherapeutic drugs will similarly provide beneficial treatment outcomes in patients [60].