Description
Science Discovery: Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Disease
David E. Pisetsky
Reviewer: Raj Kumar
Botulinum Research Center,
Institute of Advanced Sciences, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA
rkumar@inads.org
Abstract
One of human’s strongest defense systems against harmful
bacteria and viruses is their well-developed immune system. It has
several components which not only recognize potential pathogens
but also prepare the body to counter and fight to eliminate them.
Normally, our immune system knows the difference between
foreign bodies and our own cells and organs. However, in certain
pathological states, due to malfunction in the immune system,
our body defense system starts acting against our own healthy
cells, tissues, and organs. This state is called autoimmune
disorders, which can affect any part of your body, weakening
bodily functions and even could be life-threatening. In general,
autoimmune disease and disorders are used to represent this
state interchangeably. In the US, about 50 million people are
affected by these disorders, mostly with no or fewer options for
cure, or with lifetime treatments to ease symptoms. Although
these conditions can affect individuals of any age, they have
a much greater prevalence in women. Researchers are trying
to understand why there is a sex-bias of this disease. The
diversity of this disease is a challenge to medical science. A few
questions can represent the complexities of these diseases. These
questions are yet to be answered; a) how is it initiated? b) does
autoreactivity have a role in the clinical syndrome? c) mechanisms
and biomarkers of pathogenesis, and d) how can it be reversed?
