Chronic autoimmune-mediated inflammation: a senescent immune response to injury

► We postulate a generic paradigm for AIMID. ► Acute autoimmune inflammation causes injury in an organ. ► Chronic inflammation is a dysregulated T cell reaction against antigens released from injury. ► T cells lacking CD28 (CD28null) have a central role in the response to injury. ► CD28null effector memory T cells are a hallmark of immune ageing.