Fig. 2 Important steps of mercury-induced autoimmunity. The scheme shows some of the most common findings
with oral and parenteral exposure to mercury(II) salts, but experiments in mercury-sensitive rats and other rodents
have elucidated many more details of the mechanisms (see text). TH-2 cells = TH2-helper cells, IgE =
immunoglobulin E, IgG = immunoglobulin G.