Autoimmune

autoimmune /au·to·im·mune/ (-i-mun´) directed against the body's own tissue; see under disease and response.

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au·to·im·mune (ôt--myn)

adj.

Of or relating to an immune response by the body against one of its own tissues, cells, or molecules.

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auto·im·muni·ty n.

auto·immu·ni·zation (-my-n-zshn) n.

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Autoimmune

Pertaining to an immune response by the body against one of its own tissues or types of cells.

Mentioned in: Alemtuzumab, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Plasmapheresis, Skin Cancer, Non-Melanoma

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autoimmune (ô´tōimyōōn´),

adj the development of an immune response to one's own tissues.

autoimmune disease,

n May also be called
autoimmune disorder. See disease, autoimmune, and autoantibody.

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autoimmune

the state conferred by autoimmunity.

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autoimmune disease

a disease state characterized by a specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the body's own tissues (autoantigens).

The immunological mechanism of the body is dependent on two major factors: (1) the inactivation and rejection of foreign substances and (2) the ability to differentiate between the body's own antigens ('self') and foreign ('nonself'). It is not yet known exactly what causes the body to fail to recognize proteins as its own and to react to them as if they were foreign. Autoimmune reactions are rare in large animal diseases. thrombocytopenia, milk allergy and spermatic granuloma are known examples. In dogs and cats there are a number of autoimmune diseases recognized and they occur with some frequency. These include autoimmune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, lymphocyticthyroiditis and a variety of dermatological disorders in the pemphigus group of diseases.

autoimmune reaction

includes, most importantly, the acute syndromes of anaphylaxia and pulmonary and cutaneous diseases.