$Unique_ID{BRK01130}
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$Title{What Causes an "Autoimmune" Disease to Happen?}
$Subject{autoimmune disease Blood lymphocytes T cells thymus B cell blood
antibodies phagocytes neutrophils macrophages juvenile rheumatoid arthritis ra
systemic lupus erythematous le multiple sclerosis diabetes phagocyte
neutrophil macrophage}
$Volume{U-7}
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Rheumatoid Arthritis*0001703.scf
Neutrophil and Monocyte (White) Blood Cells*0002104.scf
Lymphocyte(White) Blood Cells*0002105.scf
Location and Function of the Endocrine Glands*0002901.scf
The Thymus*0002908.scf
Immune Cell Production Sites I*0004501.scf
Immune Cell Production Sites II*0004502.scf
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis*0008201.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What Causes an "Autoimmune" Disease to Happen?


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QUESTION:  Although I think I understand what the body does to protect itself
against harmful bacteria that cause infections, I don't understand the cause
of something called an "autoimmune" disease.  Yet I read every day of more
illness blamed on this process.  Can you explain what it is and what causes it
to happen?

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ANSWER:  I can probably handle "what it is" a bit better than what causes it
to happen.  And I would be at a complete loss in trying to identify methods to
treat the problem directly.  The immune process is a complicated one, with
several types of cells playing important roles in the process.  There are two
important lymphocytes, T cells (for thymus) and B cells (for blood) that are
at the core of the action.  The T cell is like a quarterback that interprets
the enemy's composition and signals other cells to get into action.  B cells
eliminate any enemies that exist outside of cells, such as viral organisms
which may have multiplied inside a normal cell, broken out and are now on the
prowl for new healthy cell victims.  B cells recognize these enemies with the
help of antibodies, molecules that form part of the surface of the B cell.  T
cells, along with "helper" T cells and "suppressor" T cells, direct the
action, getting cells known as phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) to
attack the enemy and literally eat them up.  All of this works quite well
normally, but sometimes the system goes out of whack, and these cells begin to
attack cells within our body that are part of our normal systems.  For some
reason they have been identified as "foreign" by the immune system, and all of
the forces normally directed to ridding the body of invaders are directed
against natural portions of our own constitution.  Such parts may be joints,
as in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or organs--the kidneys or lungs--which
become victims in systemic lupus erythematous.  In multiple sclerosis it is
the brain and spinal cord, and in juvenile diabetes the pancreas is affected.
Thus the protective system works against its own body or "autoimmune", as if
we were allergic to ourselves.  The only treatments now available attempt to
reduce the process of inflammation, or attempt to reduce symptoms.  Though we
still don't know enough, this is a field of medicine that has made enormous
strides recently, a science that was mostly unknown when I attended medical
school.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.