Immuunivälitteisenä

Immuunivälitteisenä is a Finnish term that translates to "immune-mediated" in English. It describes a process or condition where the body's own immune system is responsible for causing harm or dysfunction. Instead of protecting the body from external threats like viruses or bacteria, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, cells, or organs.

This immune-mediated response is the underlying mechanism for a wide range of diseases, commonly referred to as autoimmune diseases. In these conditions, the immune system loses its ability to distinguish between self and non-self, leading to an attack on the body's own components. Examples include type 1 diabetes, where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, or rheumatoid arthritis, which targets the joints.

Immune-mediated phenomena are not limited to autoimmunity. They can also be involved in allergic reactions, where the immune system overreacts to harmless substances like pollen or certain foods. Furthermore, in transplant rejection, the recipient's immune system may recognize the transplanted organ as foreign and initiate an attack to eliminate it. Understanding the immune-mediated basis of a disease is crucial for diagnosis and developing effective treatment strategies, which often aim to modulate or suppress the overactive immune response.