Mycoplasma infection induces a scleroderma-like centrosome autoantibody response in mice. Clin Exp Immunol. 2004 Aug;137(2):288-97.
Groundbreaking murine study (2004) demonstrated that intracellular mycoplasma infections induce antigenic autoantibody responses in systemic scleroderma, abrogating normal cellular division by damaging mitotic spindle organization in cell organelles, called centrosomes. Study authors at the University of Massachusetts Medical School conclude by saying that “intriguing” scleroderma remissions have been described following antibiotic treatments targeting mycoplasmas, referencing studies using minocycline or ciprofloxacin.