autoimuunisuutta

Autoimmunity, or autoimmunisuus in Finnish, refers to conditions in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues due to a breakdown of self-tolerance. Autoreactive T cells or autoantibodies target organs or systemic components, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Autoimmune disease is distinct from autoinflammatory disorders, which involve the innate immune system and lack high-titer autoantibodies or T cell–driven responses.

Most cases arise from interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental triggers, and immune dysregulation. Failures of central tolerance in the thymus, peripheral tolerance, or regulatory T cells permit autoreactive lymphocytes to persist. Autoantibodies can form immune complexes or disrupt tissue function; autoreactive T cells recruit inflammatory cells and cytokines.

Diseases are commonly organ-specific (for example, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto's or Graves' thyroiditis, celiac disease) or systemic (such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome).

Risk factors include certain HLA alleles, infections, smoking, hormonal influences, and microbiome perturbations. Epigenetic mechanisms may modulate risk.

Diagnosis integrates clinical features with laboratory tests. Autoantibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-TPO, RF, anti-CCP) support diagnosis, alongside organ-specific tests, imaging, and sometimes biopsy. Disease activity guides treatment.

Management aims to reduce immune activity and symptoms. Treatments include glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and targeted therapies such as biologics (TNF inhibitors, IL-6 blockers, B cell–targeted agents) or JAK inhibitors. Lifestyle and pregnancy considerations may influence care.