This event does not appear to be part of a general autoimmune diathesis (anti-IL-10 being absent from individuals we tested with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal-dystrophy (APECED), for example), but conceivably an environmental exposure such as EBV or CMV may provoke a cross-reactive humoral response in susceptible individuals17. The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1.