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Autoimmune Diseases: Clarity & Facts for Patients - Autoimmune Disease | Johns Hopkins Pathology You are using an unsupported version of IE. This site will work on IE9+. ▲ Pathology Home --- Toggle navigation ✕ Autoimmunity Basics Definition Causes Disease Development Types of Damage Classification Prevalence Research in Pathology Learn About Our Research Autoimmunity Day About Us Home Second Opinion Contact Us Glossary Donate Home Second Opinion Contact Us Glossary Donate Autoimmunity Basics Definition Causes Disease Development Types of Damage Classification Prevalence Research in Pathology Learn About Our Research Autoimmunity Day About Us Autoimmune Diseases: Clarity & Facts for Patients What is Autoimmunity? Autoimmunity is the presence of antibodies (which are made by B lymphocytes ) or T lymphocytes directed against normal components of a person. These components are called auto-antigens (or self-antigens) and typically consist of proteins (or proteins complexed with nucleic acids). Autoimmunity is very common. For example, antibodies directed against nuclear antigens, called ANA are found in about 6% of the overall healthy population. Learn More Questions about autoimmune disease? Autoimmune diseases are not easy to understand. We aim to promote knowledge about autoimmune disease. For patients, the centers help in identifying the best clinical specialist for particular autoimmune conditions. Faculty members of our center do not see patients, but rather perform research that, at times, involves patients. Get a Second Opinion Causes of Autoimmune Disease Since the official acceptance in the mid 1950s that the immune system can attack the very own body of an individual, several different theories have been proposed to explain the induction (initiation) of an autoimmune disease. Continue Reading Types of Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune diseases can be classified according to several criteria, one being the location of the autoimmune attack. Autoimmune diseases are distinguished as systemic (which affects many organs) or organ-specific (which affects one main organ). See More Impact autoimmune diseases affect about 3% of the US population, especially women Latency they develop over a prolonged period of time, so that diagnosis is often delayed Variety they can affect many different organs or tissues, and have heterogeneous presentations © 2020 Johns Hopkins University Autoimmunity Basics Research in Pathology Autoimmunity Day About Us Affinity maturation: the process through which B cells mature and produce antibodies that have a greater affinity for their antigenic target. This process is more prominent when the immune response is well under way. A receptor expressed on the surface of muscle cells at the junction between muscles and nerves. The receptor binds acetylcholine, a molecule released by the nerves that induces muscle contraction. Enzymes that transfer phosphate groups from a donor (such as ATP) to proteins. Tyrosine kinase can become the target of an autoimmune response. An autoimmune disease observed in infants caused by the passage of autoantibodies against Ro and/or La antigens from the mother to the baby. The disease can be very severe because these antibodies are capable of causing heart block. An autoimmune disease caused by the presence of autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 1, a protein part of of the desmosome. Desmosomes are structures that keep cells of the skin tightly together. Antibodies disrupt this connection, resulting in the formation of blisters. An autoimmune disease caused by the presence of autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 3, a protein part of the desmosome. Desmosomes are structures that keep cells of the skin tightly together. Antibodies disrupt this connection, resulting in the formation of blisters. An autoimmune disease caused by the presence of autoantibodies directed against the blood platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Patients have characteristic bleeding manifestations. An autoimmune disease caused by the presence of autoantibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor, which is located on skeletal muscle. Patients have characteristic muscle weakness. Aggregates of immune cells, mainly B cells and T cells, that develop in organs affected by autoimmunity, organs that normally do not contain lymphocytes. The human leukocytes antigen (HLA) system is the MHC in the human species. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a cluster of genes that make proteins expressed on the cell-surface that are involved in antigen processing and other immune functions. The MHC genes are the most polymorphic genes we have, meaning that the same gene has slightly different sequences in different people. The position of a gene on a chromosome. When the same gene has different versions in different people, these versions (called "alleles") still occupy the same locus. A technique used to quantify proteins (such as antibodies and antigens) based on how they scatter light when put in a solution. Any virus, bacterium, parasite, or fungus that can enter into the human body and cause disease. A technique used to determine the presence of antibodies in the patient's serum, revealed by their binding to a purified antigen of interest attached to a plastic plate. After binding to the antigen, the patient antibodies are detected by the addition of a commercially-available antibody directed against human antibodies that has been coupled to an enzyme. A technique used to determine the presence of antibodies in the patient's serum, revealed by their binding to a purified antigen of interest attached to magnetic beads. After binding to the antigen, the patient antibodies are detected by the addition of a commercial antibody directed against human antibodies that has been coupled to a light-emitting molecule. A technique used to determine the presence of antibodies in the patient's serum, revealed by their binding to a particular tissue substrate of interest. After binding to the tissue, the patient antibodies are detected by the addition of a commercial antibody directed against human antibodies that has been coupled to a fluorescent dye. Immune checkpoints are molecules that normally regulate the immune response by putting a brake on T cells. When checkpoints are inhibited, T cells become unleashed and can be used to destroy cancer cells. At the same time, this inhibition of the checkpoints makes T cells more capable of causing autoimmune diseases. T cells that recognize antigens belonging to the patient (such as thyroglobulin in he thyroid or myosin in the heart), rather than antigens in bacteria and viruses. Consisting of or derived from many clones. Several forms of alteration of the immune system where the normal balance between the various immune components is altered. A disease initiated by infection with some Streptococcus species where the patient makes antibodies against these bacteria that however also recognize with heart antigens, such as cardiac myosin. The part of the antigen that is recognized by an antibody or a T-cell receptor. Also known as B cells, these lymphocytes have a surface receptor specific for one of many antigens. B cells also secrete antibodies that when directed against self components are called autoantibodies (as found in patients with autoimmune diseases). Also known as T cells, these lymphocytes are one of the two lymphocyte types that have antigen-specific receptors on their surface and mediate adaptive immunity (the other type is the B lymphocyte). Any molecule that can be recognized specifically by antibodies or T lymphocytes. Typically the recognition is focused on some parts of the antigen (rather than the entire antigen), which are called epitopes. The type of antibodies that recognize antigens of the patient, always present in autoimmune diseases and sometimes causing them. A normal component of the patient, such as a protein or a protein-nuc...