Autoimmunity and Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmunity results from a failure of self-tolerance allowing activation of self-reactive T and B lymphocytes, which may produce tissue pathology and clinical autoimmune disease (Figure 16.1). The mechanisms that normally control autoreactive lymphocytes and maintain self-tolerance have been described in Chapter 15. In this chapter we explore the basis for autoimmunity in man and domestic animals.