Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

It describes a shift in the paradigm for autoimmune diseases.

 Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

We show that a guardian protein is attacked and that this attenuates the healing of an organ like the brain, when under autoimmune attack. The same protein can be administered to attenuate the autoimmune attack and thus attenuate the "attack against the guardian."

 How did you become involved in this research, and were there any problems along the way?

I have been interested in the study of protective molecules induced in an organ under attack. Our laboratory is dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis.

 Where do you see your research leading in the future?

We see it leading to the discovery of new drugs for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even atherosclerosis.

Lawrence Steinman
Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Stanford University
School of Medicine
Stanford, CA, USA

Keywords: autoimmune diseases, pathogenesis, alpha B-crystallin, autoimmune demyelination, autoimmune attack, guardian protein, protective molecules, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis.