ABSTRACT
Autoimmune diseases arise from an inappropriate immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In the same way, the immune system mistakes some parts of the body as pathogens and attacks its own cells. The breakdown of the mechanism assuring recognition of nonself and self by the immune system is a characteristic feature of autoimmune diseases. The immune system particularly recognizes and eliminates foreign agents, thereby protecting the host against infection. During maturation of the immune system, immune cells that react against self-tissues are eliminated providing an immune system that is “tolerant” to self. Historically, reactivity or autoimmunity of the immune system to self-antigens was thought of as an
Contents 9.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................99 9.2 Mechanism and Regulation of Autoimmune Disease ...........................100
