Autoimmunity
The term autoimmunity refers to an error of the body's immune system to recognize its cells and tissues as its own, producing antibodies as if they were foreign to the body. Autoimmunity is a self-destructive process that causes slow but progressive autoimmune diseases.
When lymphocytes are maturing, some are not able to distinguish antigens that come from the outside (heteroantigens) from their own molecules (autoantigens). Normally, these abnormal lymphocytes or autoreactive lymphocytes are eliminated, but it can happen that they reach the blood circulation and reach some organs, developing autoimmune processes.
The production of autoreactive lymphocytes is due to some of the following reasons:
- There are some changes in the autoantigens that prevent the immune system from recognizing them as its own.
- Some foreign antigens are very similar to autoantigens (molecular mimicry), so the body confuses them and reacts against them.
- Some cells are not recognized as their own because they had not come into contact with lymphocytes.
Some of the best known autoimmune diseases are:
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE |
STRUCTURES AFFECTED |
CONSEQUENCES |
Multiple sclerosis |
Brain and spinal cord |
Multiple and serious nervous disorders |
Lupus erythematosus |
Virtually all fabrics |
Generalized disorders (erythema or skin rashes) |
Myasthenia gravis |
Striated muscles |
Severe muscle weakness |
Juvenile diabetes (Mellitus diabetes) |
Pancreas |
Immune-dependent diabetes |