Molecular Mechanisms of Endocrine and Organ Specific Autoimmunity Book

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

Yaron Tomer

In this comprehensive book the editor deals with the major endocrine and organ specific autoimmune disorders. Although the focus is on the pathogenesis of these disorders, for some diseases there is a detailed clinical discussion. The editor intends to give a comprehensive review of the major endocrine autoimmune and organ specific autoimmune disorders, stressing the recent advances in our understanding of these diseases. Medical and graduate students, scientists involved in endocrine and autoimmunity research, and endocrinologists and clinical immunologists seeking to further their understanding of endocrine and general autoimmunity are the audience. This is a review of the major endocrine autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune thyroid diseases and Type I diabetes, as well as the major organ specific autoimmune diseases. Although the focus is mostly on the immunogenetics of the diseases, for some diseases (e.g., Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome I), the review is comprehensive and includes the clinical and the etiological aspects of the disease. There is a comprehensive introductory chapter on the mechanisms of autoimmunity, and a detailed discussion of cancer and autoimmunity in Chapter 4. The field of autoimmunity has advanced significantly in recent years. Many important autoantigens have been discovered and some, such as anti-endomysial antibodies in celiac disease, have been put into clinical practice. The first autoimmunity gene, the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), was recently cloned and sequenced. This book is a comprehensive review of the recent advances in our understanding of these disorders. It is well written, updated, well referenced and easy to read. Chapters 1,8, and 9 merit special comment. In Chapter 1 a well referenced in-depth discussion of the recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmunity is provided, and this is definitely one of the best overviews of autoimmunity recently published. In Chapter 8 all aspects of the pathogenesis of Type I diabetes are covered, including genetic factors, and the involvement of T cells and HLA in the generation of beta cell autoimmunity. In Chapter 9 contributors offer a most comprehensive review of the immunogenetics of Myasthenia Gravis, with an in-depth discussion of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. There are no chapters on several important organ specific and endocrine autoimmune disorders such as primary biliary cirrhosis and premature ovarian failure. In contrast, some chapters, although very well written, deal with issues that are not directly related to the topic of the book (e.g., Chapter 4, "Oncogenic Autoimmunity"). However, this book will serve as a valuable resource to clinicians and researchers in the field.