Autoantikehiä

Autoantikehiä, often translated as autoantibodies, are antibodies produced by the immune system that mistakenly target and attack the body's own healthy tissues and cells. Normally, the immune system distinguishes between foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, and the body's own components. In autoimmune diseases, this distinction breaks down, leading to the production of autoantibodies.

These autoantibodies can bind to various cellular components, such as proteins within cell nuclei, on cell surfaces, or in the bloodstream. This binding can trigger an immune response, leading to inflammation and damage to the targeted tissues. The specific type of autoantibody and the tissue it attacks often determines the type of autoimmune disease that develops.

For example, autoantibodies against joint tissues are common in rheumatoid arthritis, while those targeting the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are characteristic of type 1 diabetes. Other autoimmune diseases, like lupus and Sjögren's syndrome, can involve a wider range of autoantibodies that affect multiple organ systems. The presence and specific targets of autoantibodies are crucial diagnostic markers for many autoimmune conditions and are often used to monitor disease activity and treatment response. While the exact triggers for autoantibody production are not fully understood, genetic predisposition and environmental factors are believed to play significant roles.