ABSTRACT
Autoimmune disease can also be caused by activated effector T cells specific for self peptides (see Case 42). When T cells recognize self-peptide:MHC complexes and become activated, they can cause local inflammation by activating macrophages, for example, with consequent tissue damage. An example of T-cell mediated autoimmune disease is the neurologic disease multiple sclerosis (MS). However, unlike in autoimmune diseases caused by autoantibodies, it has been difficult to prove the involvement of T cells in MS, because T cells do not cross the placenta into the fetus and T-cell transfer is not possible in humans.
