Accumulating evidence is emerging that B lymphocytes and autoantibodies are critical in the
development of autoimmune disease. Even in certain disorders initially thought to be T cell-
mediated, these immune components are now considered key players in the disease
pathogenesis, and new autoantibody specificities have been added to the growing list of
targets including cell surface receptors and ion channels that may be involved in a variety of
neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders. Studies of autoantibodies penetrating living …