Malfunctioning of the immune system in Autoimmunity occurs when autoantibodies and autoreactive immune T cells attack the body’s own tissues leading to tissue damage and Autoimmune disease.
The identification of autoantibodies can be one of the first steps to identify Autoimmunity since autoantibodies can be present years before the diagnosis of Autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity is often not diagnosed until there is extensive organ damage. For example in Celiac disease, diagnosis is confirmed after an intestinal biopsy identifies significant villous atrophy.
How and why Autoimmunity occurs will vary from one person and condition to another. The diagram above is far too simplistic to explain the actual underlying mechanisms that may cause an individuals innate and adaptive immune system to malfunction. Ongoing Scientific Evidence Based Research is very important in gaining knowledge of how the immune system goes wrong and how to correct these disorders. There may be a hereditary component in some cases, but environmental exposures such a toxins, pathogens, nutrition and lifestyle are also strongly implicated. There is also a stronger chance of developing Autoimmunity when there is severe inflammation in the GI tract.
There are a huge number of antibodies present against specific human antigens in the body. It would be impossible to check all to see where the dysregulation lies. However, there is now excellent Lab Testing available and taken together with a patients history can help to pinpoint which of your tissues your immune system is attacking and the underlying mechanism. Scientific Research continues to identify specific autoantibodies linked to specific Autoimmune diseases.
Examples of common autoantibodies and associated Autoimmune Diseases are:
Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) and Thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), associated with thyroid autoimmune conditions.
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD65) antibodies, associated with: Cerebellar Ataxia, Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Stiff Person Syndrome and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults.
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) antibodies, associated with Demyelinating Diseases, Autism and PANDAS.