Autoimmunity laboratory

The Autoimmunity Laboratory

Summary

Science

Laboratory

Scientist 1

Scientist 2

Background

Autoimmunity is an abnormal biological process that can lead to pathological disease. It is caused when an immune system that normally recognises and destroys foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, ceases to recognise it’s own tissues as “self” and attacks them causing the breakdown of structures and biological processes necessary for health. These degenerative processes can affect specific cells within the body as in Type 1 autoimmune diabetes where cells of the immune system infiltrate the pancreas and destroy the cells that produce insulin. Autoimmune processes can also be tissue specific such as in the disease Myasthenia gravis. In this disease antibodies, (specifically produced proteins of the immune system) bind to and block receptors in muscle that cause progressive muscle weakening. In the case of Systemic Lupus Erythamatosus the autoimmune process is more general in nature and can attack many different tissues causing a variety of symptoms including rashes, kidney damage, and light sensitivity. The causes of many autoimmune diseases are unclear although it is likely that they are due to a combination of factors including genetic disposition, specific viral infections and other environmental factors.

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