The existential organ: Autoimmunity explained

Autoimmunity is a misunderstood gift. It means “self-protection.”  

“Auto” means “self.” It derives from the ancient Greek word "αὐτός" (autós).

Think of words like “autonomous” (self-governing), “autobiography” (writing about one’s own life), or “automation” (systems operating independently that are “self” operated). In like manner, autoimmunity means self-protection.

The word “immunity” also has insightful roots. The word entered the English language in the early 14^th century and is of Latin origin deriving from political terms "immunitas" and "immunis,” meaning exempt from public service, untaxed, or unburdened.

Although the concept of “immunity” is much older, the use of “immunity” as a medical term, meaning “protection from disease,” was introduced in the 19^th century.

Autoimmunity, although, usually misused as meaning, “self-destruction” actually means “self-protection.”

Let’s explore this concept (and why it matters) further.

The immune system: an existential organ

Know Thyself Understanding autoimmunity goes back to the age-old question. What is self? Philosophers, theologians, and psychologists have all grappled with this question and the body does too! 

The immune system is an existential organ system; its role is to “Know Thyself” in the words of Socrates - to differentiate one’s 'self’ (“self-cells”) from the outside world and attack anything it deems harmful, foreign or invading.

It is important to know that in the process of attacking invasive threats (like a virus) coming into the body, the T-cell component of the immune system does not sense those “foreign” materials directly. Instead, the T-cells will sense the way a “self” cell has been altered by an invading virus. How this works is conventional T-cells, which serve to identify and destroy infected cells, will sense a viral peptide presented by the “self” (presented by MHC or HLA) on the cell surface of an infected (“self”) cell. It will see it as an altered self-cell as abnormal “self” and attack it.

Because elimination of cancer cells and infected cells require immune cells to attack and destroy “self-cells” (abnormal cells) that have been altered in this fashion, there are many features and safety mechanisms in place that prevent self-attacking or self-protecting (autoimmunity) immune cells from destroying “healthy self.” 

With autoimmune diseases, such safety mechanisms are defective and lead to unwanted self-destruction.

In short, an autoimmune disease is when the immune system becomes overactive and attacks the body's own healthy cells and tissues, mistaking them for dangerous or unhealthy cells.

A vision toward better autoimmune disease treatments

Traditional immunological science views "autoimmunity" or "self-reactivity" as the problem leading to autoimmune disease therapies that suppress overactive immune systems and expose patients to risks of infection, cancer and other diseases. Praespero researchers want to stop treating the body like the problem and start working in partnership with the immune system.

Autoimmunity includes the mechanisms that recognize and protect the “self.”   We want to tap into these mechanisms to understand, prevent and more effectively treat autoimmune diseases, without resorting to immunosuppressive therapies that detract from the inherent, protective capacity of the immune system.

To learn more about how you can support this game-changing effort visit here. 

To see a comprehensive list of autoimmune diseases visit here.

Information contained in this page submitted by Praespero Scientific Advisory Board immunologists, Adam Buntzman and Hilde Cheroutre.