Table 1 Etiological substances and corresponding immune effectors in the PHS hypothesis
Etiological substances (or events) | Corresponding immune effectors |
|---|---|
Pathogenic proteins (BCR-associated) | B cells: antibodies against pathogenic proteins |
Pathogenic peptides (TCR-associated) | T cells: peptides or cytokines against pathogenic peptides |
Pathogenic small peptides, monoamines, their metabolites (especially in CNS) | Immune proteins such as PrP gene products and other amyloid proteins, mast cell-associated immune responses |
Non-protein materials such as LPS, RNAs, DNAs, chemicals, biochemicals | TLR-associated immune responses, natural antibodies, other immune systems such as complements and other proteins |
Large complex substances such as viruses, bacteria, parasite, apoptotic & necrotic bodies | Phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages), eosinophils (in case of large parasites) |
A protein deficiency or malfunctioning protein in organ tissues or within a cell | Production of alternative proteins in genetic diseases and cancers |