Figure 1From: Association of MHC and rheumatoid arthritis: Why is rheumatoid arthritis associated with the MHC genetic region? An introductionSome of the mechanisms proposed for the role of DR in RA.(a) DR molecules provides peptides for binding to other MHC moleculeswhich will trigger T cells that regulate pahogenic T cells. (b) DR- selfpeptide complexes select the T cell repertoire that may have a regulatoryimpact on the activation of pathogenic T cells. (c) DR molecules bindself peptides, which may or may not be derived from joint tissue, that triggerpathogenic T cells. (d) Another possibility is that DR molecules bindspeptides derived from infectious agents that may persist in the joints or giverise to a self cross-reactive T cells. Subsequently the activated T cells couldinduce, modulate or regulate the erosive destruction of the joints.Back to article page