Questions tagged [autoimmune]

Questions pertaining to the production of an immune response to self tissues/molecules.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
7 votes
2 answers
514 views

Why is there no way to remove an immune response?

We've known for a long time now how to "add a new entry to the database," as it were, of immune responses. It's called vaccination, and it's been one of the greatest success stories in the history of ...
Mason Wheeler's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
254 views

Longevity and extent of transfection after SARS-COV-2 vaccination with Janssen

The Johnson vaccine, unlike the RNA vaccines from Pfizer & Moderna, uses a vector containing DNA encoding for the SARS-COV-2 spike protein. This vector DNA needs to enter the cell, allowing for ...
AliceD's user avatar
  • 52.4k
5 votes
1 answer
93 views

A possible cause of autoimmunity

I read that Doherty and Zinkernagel found that MHC- heterozygotes present more antigens to the immune system than homozygotes; yet, the infected heterozygous mice in their experiment all died, ...
biogirl's user avatar
  • 8,609
5 votes
1 answer
187 views

How does de-myelination occur in multiple sclerosis?

From what I understand, only the oligodendrocytes are affected in multiple sclerosis, and they are attacked by T cells which cross the blood-brain barrier. This leads me to two questions: How is the ...
Meep's user avatar
  • 2,939
5 votes
2 answers
220 views

Autoimmunity and central tolerance

Where in the body are self antigens important? In terms of central tolerance and autoimmunity, but also in terms of T cell activation?
Ddog's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
0 answers
70 views

Are autoantibodies against intracellular proteins "functional"?

Autoantibodies against intracellular proteins have been detected in some autoimmune diseases (For example, TRIM21 in Sjögren's syndrome and NALP5 in Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1). My ...
Josuke's user avatar
  • 203
4 votes
1 answer
110 views

Is there a link between autoimmune diseases and X-chromosome inactivation?

I was reading about the necessity of niche formations to adequate development of blood progenitors and this idea reminded me of the patchy inactivation of the X chromosome which followed that maybe, ...
user27221's user avatar
  • 490
4 votes
1 answer
22 views

Why are certain cells more likely to be attacked in autoimmune conditions?

For example, type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and kills beta cells in the pancreas. This is relatively common. What makes beta cells more likely to be targeted than, say, alpha ...
Adam C's user avatar
  • 383
4 votes
1 answer
102 views

Immunity during pregnancy

I have learnt that our immune system distinguishes self from non-self by using MHC. So a mother during pregnancy should also develop antibodies against the fetus as it is also a genetically different ...
biogirl's user avatar
  • 8,609
3 votes
1 answer
85 views

When was it determined that Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease?

I just found out today that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. When was this discovered?
Kim's user avatar
  • 175
3 votes
1 answer
436 views

Do macrophages engulf mtDNA?

Let us assume that in a human body, a mitochondrial DNA is released to extracellular environment. We know that mtDNA inheritance is solely matrilineal. So the question is, If your mitochondrial DNA ...
user22406's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
191 views

Is it possible to transfer acquired hemophilia with breast milk?

There is a transplacental form of acquired hemophilia: http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476%2895%2970132-X/abstract This disease is caused by polyclonal immunoglobulins (IgG1 and IgG4) against the ...
inf3rno's user avatar
  • 4,460
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

How does Humira work when injected into patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

OK, I have rheumatoid arthritis and I've been injecting Humira 2 times a month for the last 8 months. As far as I know rheumatoid arthritis is simply an immune system disorder which makes the immune ...
Flux's user avatar
  • 535
2 votes
2 answers
105 views

Why does damage to myelin sheath in multiple sclerosis lead to a decrease in information reaching the brain from sensory receptors?

In multiple sclerosis(MS), myelin sheath is attacked and damaged. When this happens, there is a decrease in the amount of information reaching the brain from sensory receptors. How and why does a ...
Donia Elwardany's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
555 views

How exactly does a prion cause disease?

During my study of the immune system, I came across 2 very contrasting explanation as to how prions work. Firstly, scientific American pointed out this: link here: "A major breakthrough ...
user35897's user avatar
  • 1,257
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

How do genetic chimeras with different blood types not die?

If a person is a chimera and has two different blood types in his veins, how does he not die? Shouldn't the immune system attack one of the blood types? In 1953 a human chimera was reported in the ...
curiousman's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
8k views

Meaning of units in ELISA based tests?

For some ELISA based antibody tests (e.g. h-tTg antibody test), labs report units as RU/mL or U/mL. Also different labs have different cut off (normal range) values. I understand that different kit ...
Dayne's user avatar
  • 139
2 votes
1 answer
305 views

What goes wrong in the immune system that leads to autoimmune diseases

As far as I understood so far, B and T cells are produced in the bone marrow, and during their maturing process in the bone marrow or Thymus, the are "programmed" to react to certain proteins. It is ...
Hansjoerg Wingeier's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
93 views

How do B and T cells work incorrectly in a person with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells. How exactly do B and T cells attack these cells they mistake for pathogens?
John Doe's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
104 views

Do the antibodies in a patient suffering from Hashimoto's, attack the thyroid hormones or the thyroid gland (or both?)?

If oral thyroid hormone supplement is administered, is the attack stopped or does it just create an excess of thyroid hormones so that even after a lot of it is destroyed by the antibodies, there is ...
Adarsh Pryce's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
101 views

Can stress-induced cortisol reduce diabetes type I?

Let us consider a patient with type 1 diabetes. I think it would be safe to say that diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Now let us suppose this patient comes under stress. As far as I know, cortisol ...
Ozymandias Amygdala's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
72 views

Do all IgG autoantibodies lead to autoimmune diseases?

If there is a presence of autoantibody in our blood, does that mean that we are going to have an autoimmune disease? Are there some autoantibodies which don't cause tissue and organ damage?
Riq's user avatar
  • 62
2 votes
1 answer
866 views

What is the attacking mechanism of RF on IgG?

Rheumatoid Factor (RF) attacks Fc portion of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), I want to know the underlying mechanism at molecular level. Also, what type of bond or attachment is made by RF and Fc portion of ...
user56396's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
291 views

How does Celiac's Disease cause people to stop growing?

In all of the sites I've looked on, one of the symptoms of Celiac's Disease is the failure to grow in children. Why would an immune attack against gluten cause stunted growth? Celiac.org states: ...
SolarLunix's user avatar
  • 3,074
2 votes
0 answers
73 views

How much of TLR 7 agonist is safe for human beings, as it is both linked to development of autoimmune diseases but is also used as Vaccine adjuvant?

This question is motivated by the fact that TLR 7 agonists have been linked to development and acceleration of Lupus-like disease both in animals and human beings. But at the same time, TLR 7 agonist ...
Prem's user avatar
  • 280
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Could bone marrow transplants help make xenotransplants viable?

So the immune system doesn't calibrate (for want of a better euphemism) to recognize it's own cells until fairly well along in fetal development & the major components of the immune system (...
Pelinore's user avatar
  • 801
2 votes
0 answers
89 views

How can autoimmunity be selective?

Vitiligo is a skin disorder where the pigment disappears. More on Wikipedia. This is believed to be caused by autoimmunity and has made me interested in autoimmunity in general. I am still very much ...
Stig Hemmer's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
44 views

Are there any auto-immune diseases caused by T cells not detaching from antigen presenting cells (APCs)?

By not detaching I'm referring to after they have formed an immunological synapse, if they don't ever detach.
Gray's user avatar
  • 21
1 vote
2 answers
189 views

How are Thyroid Stimulating Ab destroying thyroid tissues?

I was reading about Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder. I read a few books, including Endocrinology by Hadley and Levine, and websites where they mentioned that the antibody named TSAb (...
Tyto alba's user avatar
  • 8,784
1 vote
1 answer
259 views

How is the antigen against which autoantibodies are formed, identified?

Say we suspect some new autoimmune disorder in a patient, and we collect blood for serology. How are self antibodies differentiated from normal ones in the collected sample? Once they are identified, ...
Polisetty's user avatar
  • 3,687
1 vote
1 answer
61 views

Does atrophy of the thymus not effect T-cell selection and tolerance?

The thymus atrophies as age progresses. Does the T cell selection (which happens in the thymus) continue to take place? This doubt came into my mind because in the cadaver we dissected, the thymus was ...
Polisetty's user avatar
  • 3,687
1 vote
5 answers
348 views

Can your immune system's cells destroy you? (Critical thinking and Fictional sense)

In an imaginary sense, If you alone were replicated into 2 so that there should now be 2 of "you" (meaning you both have the same DNA). Then let's say one of you shrunk to the size of a bacteria, and ...
NocTurn's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
3 answers
244 views

Cell identification by Body Cells

How do the B-cells and T-cells recognize or distinguish a body cell from a foreign particle? I suspect something to do with this causes Auto Immune Disorders.
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
65 views

RNA vaccination and Autoimmune Reactions

To my knowledge we do not have any robust experience with RNA vaccination. Most likely this will change in the near future as RNA vaccines against COVID are in the pipeline. The rationale behind this ...
friedrich's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
16 views

Auto-immune problems if immature B-cells released if bone marrow bone is fractured?

A fracture of a bone containing bone marrow with B-cells not yet taught to not recognize self-antigen, if the bone is fractured, can those cells get released and cause problems?
Craig's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
48 views

Do person with strong immune system have less chance of surviving SARS-COV-2 attack?

In most of the cases dealing with SARS-COV-2 disease, the major mortality cause is due to cytokine storm in response to Corona-virus that also attack healthy organs causing multiple organ failure. ...
Swastik's user avatar
  • 220
1 vote
0 answers
20 views

Can intracellular protein initiate strong immune response?

Some autoantibodies escape immune tolerance and can cause autoimmune disease. In order to cause harm to the tissues by these autoantibodies, do the antigen need to be extracellular or membrane bound, ...
Riq's user avatar
  • 62
1 vote
0 answers
12 views

Is autoimmune disease associated with self-reactive B cells?

I'm a bit of an amateur, so excuse what may be a very naive question, but I somewhat understand how B cells that are self-reactive (bind to endogenous epitopes) are selected out during development. I ...
TheEnvironmentalist's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
31 views

Is there a organ or type of cell that makes Nagalase?

Schindler disease / Kanzaki disease is being described as alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency. So then, which organ or cell(s) produce this alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) ?
Neel's user avatar
  • 125
1 vote
0 answers
16 views

T1D autoimmunity causes' possibilities

As far as I've learned about T1D, the prevalence of the disease and autoimmune disorders in general over the past 5 decades intrigued me to the point it made me wonder if it's really a genetic ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
40 views

"Treatment" of allergy.

Is there any treatment for allergy? I am not saying about solutions like epi-pen which reduce the symptoms. Is there any way to modify our immunity so that it does not identify the allergens? Can we ...
YAHB's user avatar
  • 1,679
1 vote
0 answers
48 views

Is this description of etiology of celiac disease correct?

There is a detailed and, to my inexpert eyes, plausible description of the etiology of celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders posted here: http://no-gluten.org/CeliacDisease.htm Is it is at ...
shadowtalker's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
84 views

Where happens MHCII coordination to a self-peptide, and what happens if the bond would be irreversible?

MHC-II proteins are presenting antigens on the surface of cells with lysosomal activities where they eventually might get transported off by some T-cell receptor-anti-gens, as far as I understand (pls ...
Raphael J.F. Berger's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
137 views

Cancer cells and their ability to avoid the immune system

Since cancer cell retain their ability to trigger the immune system from their pre-cancerous state and any condition that causes an auto-immune reaction in a specific area of the body will attack any ...
201044's user avatar
  • 517
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

Is tumor necrosing factor alpha now properly referred to as "tumor necrosing factor"?

"Because LTα is no longer referred to as TNFβ,[64] TNFα, as the previous gene symbol, is now simply called TNF, as shown in HGNC (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee) database." says https://en....
Matthew Christopher Bartsh's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
67 views

How is Vitamin D deficiency linked to multiple sclerosis? [closed]

Numbness and tingling in various parts of the body can be linked to the deficiency if vitamin D in one's diet. Also, multiple sclerosis has Vitamin D deficiency as one of its risk factors. How exactly ...
Arkajyoti Banerjee's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
58 views

Could transfusion of a different blood type cure blood-based cancers?

Different antigen detection triggers an immune system response that could perhaps stimulate mitochondria and such in killing cancer cells - something like chemo without the hair-loss?
ina's user avatar
  • 273
0 votes
1 answer
237 views

Is cancer a defect of the immune system? [closed]

Is cancer due to a defect in the immune system?
Geremia's user avatar
  • 366
0 votes
1 answer
282 views

What is immunosuppression? Why would one use it? [closed]

What is immunosuppression? I know it is used in cancer patients, but why would one want to suppress the immune system? Do homeopathic physicians ever use immunosuppression, or do only allopathic ...
Geremia's user avatar
  • 366
0 votes
1 answer
90 views

Where are epitopes located on HLA molecules?

Normally HLA molecules present cellular and extra cellular proteins to the immune system; presumably the proteins in this case are where antibody /t-cells etc bind. But when an organ is transplanted ...
Abijah's user avatar
  • 163