Autoimmune Diseases Publisher



Harsini S^{1, 2, 3} ; Rezaei N^{1, 4, 5}
Source: Clinical Immunology Published:2022

Abstract

There are over 80 defined autoimmune diseases, characterized by the activation of the immune system and tissue damage in the absence of an external threat to the organism, which affect 5 percent-7 percent of the population. Diseases considered to be autoimmune in origin can be characterized by activation of the adaptive immune response with B and T lymphocytes responding to self-antigens in the absence of any detectable tumor invasion or microbial assault; or as those that display the activation of the innate immune system and an excess of inflammatory mediators, but no evidence of an antigen-specific immune response, the former constituting the vast majority of such disease entities. Here we will discuss the immune cells and immune responses involved in autoimmune reaction, initiation and facilitation of autoimmunity and then will elaborate on human multisystem autoimmune diseases and some more common system-specific autoimmune diseases. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.