autoimmune disease

autoimmune disease
a disease resulting from a disordered immune reaction in which antibodies are produced against one's own tissues, as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.
[1960-65]

* * *

Any disease caused by an immune response (see immunity) against antigens in the tissues of one's own body.

The immune system has two known ways to prevent such a response: destruction of lymphocytes in the thymus before they leave to attack one's own tissues and loss of ability to react to their target antigens by any such cells that do leave the thymus. Autoimmune diseases arise when these mechanisms fail and lymphocytes destroy host tissues; examples include type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, pernicious anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment may replace the function of the affected tissue (e.g., insulin therapy for diabetes) or suppress the immune system (see immunosuppression). Allergy is another type of autoimmune reaction.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Autoimmune disease — Autoimmune diseases Classification and external resources ICD 10 D84.9, M35.9 ICD 9 279.4 …   Wikipedia

  • autoimmune disease — autoimmune′ disease n. pat a disease resulting from a disordered immune reaction in which antibodies are produced that damage components of one s own body • Etymology: 1960–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • autoimmune disease — autoimmune disease. См. аутоаллергическое заболевание. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • autoimmune disease — (aw to ī mūn ) A disease produced by the immune system attacking self antigens. Autoimmune disease results from the activation of self reactive T and B cells that damage tissues after stimulation by genetic or environmental triggers …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • autoimmune disease — noun any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues • Syn: ↑autoimmune disorder • Hypernyms: ↑disease • Hyponyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • autoimmune disease — one of a number of otherwise unrelated disorders caused by inflammation and destruction of tissues by the body s own immune response. These disorders include acquired haemolytic anaemia, pernicious anaemia, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis,… …   Medical dictionary

  • autoimmune disease — one of a number of otherwise unrelated disorders caused by inflammation and destruction of tissues by the body s own immune response. These disorders include acquired haemolytic anaemia, pernicious anaemia, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis,… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • autoimmune disease — A condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • Autoimmune hepatitis — Classification and external resources Micrograph showing a lymphoplasmacytic interface hepatitis the characteristic histomorphologic finding of autoimmune hepatitis. Liver biopsy. H …   Wikipedia

  • Autoimmune inner ear disease — is a suspected autoimmune disease characterized by rapidly progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. [ [http://www.emedicine.com/ent/TOPIC496.HTM Inner Ear, Autoimmune (eMedicine, 2006)] ] It occurs when the body s immune system attacks… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”