The Possible Role of Lipid Containing RNA Viruses for the Etiology of Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

The role of antibodies in the course of virus infections is not well understood. It can be said, however, that the elimination of infectious particles is not their only function. It was shown by Hotchin (1962) that in infections of mice with the virus of lymphocytic choriomenigitis the overt disease is an immediate sequela of the formation of specific antibodies. A similar mechanism, i.e. an antigen-antibody reaction as a trigger for a disease, is currently discussed for the chronic infections with neuropathogenic agents or “slow viruses” (Johnson, 1967). In these diseases complexes of antibodies and viral antigens are supposed to be formed at the surface of the cells of the central nervous system (CNS).