What happens when your immune system starts attacking antigens that are on your own cells?
Usually, the T and B cells that match up with antigens on your own cells, are destroyed before you are born. An Autoimmune disease occurs when when our own cells, for some reason, have exposed an antigen that was previously thought to be foreign. This means the body has antibodies against this antigen and these antibodies will start to attack the cell that is exposing the antigen.
Scientists are still not sure why autoimmune diseases occur. These diseases seem to be triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Examples of autoimmune disorders.
Arthritis - This painful condition is initiated when antibodies in the patients body start attacking the membranes around a joint.
Lupus - antibodies attack proteins in the nucleus of cells of affected tissues.
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