Immune Health - Autoimmunity Flashcards
- What is autoimmune disease?
Answer: Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells, causing diseases like RA, MS, and SLE.
- What causes autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Causes include genetic factors, infections, emotional trauma, gluten sensitivity, and vitamin D deficiency.
- What is self-tolerance?
Answer: Self-tolerance is the immune system’s ability to recognize self from non-self, preventing it from attacking the body’s own cells.
- What roles do Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells play?
Answer: Th1 and Th17 cells drive inflammation in organ-specific diseases, while Th2 cytokines dominate in systemic conditions like SLE.
- How does cross-reactivity contribute to autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Cross-reactivity occurs when foreign antigens mimic self-antigens, triggering an immune attack on the body’s tissues.
- What is the autoimmune protocol (AIP)?
Answer: AIP is a diet and lifestyle plan that reduces inflammation and supports gut and immune health by eliminating trigger foods.
- What is epitope spreading?
Answer: Epitope spreading is when an immune response to one part of an antigen spreads to other parts, increasing tissue damage.
- How do environmental toxins contribute to autoimmunity?
Answer: Environmental toxins like heavy metals and pesticides can cause oxidative stress, which disrupts immune tolerance.
- What is the relationship between sex and autoimmune disease?
Answer: Autoimmune diseases are more common in women, with hormonal fluctuations affecting disease activity.
- What is the role of vitamin D in autoimmunity?
Answer: Vitamin D helps maintain self-tolerance and boosts T-regulatory cells, reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases like MS.
- What is intestinal permeability?
Answer: Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) allows immune system exposure to antigens, which can trigger autoimmune responses.
- What foods are excluded in the autoimmune protocol (AIP)?
Answer: AIP excludes gluten, dairy, grains, legumes, nightshades, processed sugars, and artificial additives.
- What is the role of probiotics in autoimmune conditions?
Answer: Probiotics help restore gut balance, reducing inflammation and improving symptoms in autoimmune diseases like RA and MS.
- How does emotional trauma affect autoimmunity?
Answer: Emotional trauma can trigger immune dysregulation, which may increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
- What is the function of curcumin in autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Curcumin reduces inflammation and can improve outcomes in conditions like ulcerative colitis, MS, and RA.
- What is molecular mimicry in autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Molecular mimicry occurs when foreign antigens resemble self-antigens, leading the immune system to attack the body’s own cells.
- What is the impact of dysbiosis on autoimmunity?
Answer: Dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) can trigger immune responses that contribute to autoimmune disease development.
- What is the role of resveratrol in autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Resveratrol helps reduce inflammation by downregulating immune cells and inflammatory pathways in autoimmune conditions.
- What are the common symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, and inflammation, often related to specific autoimmune conditions.
- What is the relationship between genes and autoimmune diseases?
Answer: Genetic factors, such as specific HLA SNPs, can predispose individuals to autoimmune diseases, triggering immune dysfunction.
