autoantibody
Autoantibody refers to an antibody that targets the body's own tissues or components, produced when immune tolerance to self-antigens is impaired. Autoantibodies can be of various isotypes, most commonly IgG or IgM, and may be present in health or disease. They can arise from genetic susceptibility, environmental triggers, or infections that alter self-antigens or immune regulation.
The presence of autoantibodies does not always indicate autoimmune disease. They can serve as markers identifying
Common examples include antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which are detected in many autoimmune diseases and used as
Detection methods include indirect immunofluorescence for screening, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immunoblot techniques, and multiplex panels.