Molecular Aspects of the Rheumatic Diseases

This publication contains the proceedings of a conference focusing on basic and applied aspects of rheumatic disease pathogenesis and rational approaches to pharmaceutical development. The basic mechanisms of inflammation and immunoregulation examined include: T cell antigen receptors in rheumatoid arthritis; the response of T cells to a vascular growth factor in rheumatoid arthritis; the structural properties of a subset of nephritogenic anti-DNA antibodies; the molecular and structural analysis of nuclear localizing anti-DNA lupus antibodies; and the intracellular location of inapparently-infecting Chlamydia in synovial tissue from patients with Reiter's syndrome. The prospects for novel therapeutic agents are also highlighted in contributions which focus on: ayn-linker delivery of anti-rheumatic agents; the role of the immunosuppressive drugs F-506 and Rapamycin in T cell signal transduction pathways; granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mimicry and receptor interactions; and the development of new technologies such as immunotherapeutic intervention on the basis of direct DNA inoculation.