4.1.13 Autoimmune Diseases

Question 1

What is an autoimmune disease?

Answer 1

Roughly 5% of the British population suffer from an autoimmune disease

An autoimmune disease occurs when the body attacks itself

The immune system damages cells of the body as a result

Antibodies, T cells (helper and cytotoxic) and B cells attack one or more self-antigens
Glycoproteins and glycolipids form surface antigens that enable the immune system to determine whether the cell belongs to the body or if it is foreign

The attack can be targeted towards a single organ or it can be directed towards the entire body

Question 2

Describe Rheumatoid Arthrituis.

Answer 2

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that solely affects the joints
It is different from osteoarthritis in several ways

It usually begins in the fingers and hands, spreading to the shoulders and elsewhere

Symptoms include muscle spasms, inflamed tendons, lethargy and constant joint pain

Question 3

What are the causes of autoimmune diseases?

Answer 3

The causes of autoimmune diseases are still not fully understood

There is a lot of research currently underway in this field

Scientists have deduced that genetics is an influencing factor
Susceptibility to an autoimmune disease was shown to be inherited
Susceptibility is the likelihood of an individual developing the disease when exposed to the specific pathogen or stimulus

However, research has also suggested that the environment is also important
When individuals moved from areas of low autoimmune disease prevalence (like Japan) to areas of higher autoimmune disease prevalence (like the USA) they showed an increased chance of developing an autoimmune disease