Autoimmune disease is a bodily condition in which the immune system starts attacking its own healthy cells and organs, instead of protecting the body from harmful pathogens, i.e, bacteria and viruses.
Autoimmune disease affects millions of people worldwide. According to the National Stem Cells Foundation, Autoimmune diseases affect approximately 4% of the global population and represent the third most common cause of chronic illness in the United States.
The most common diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, and type 1 diabetes. These diseases can impact a person’s everyday life, causing pain, fatigue, and problems in performing everyday activities.
Let’s go through this post and learn all about autoimmune diseases and how researchers are studying these diseases to understand the cause and get the best treatment.
What Causes Autoimmune Diseases?
- Immune System Dysfunction
In this, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells instead of the harmful cells. The overactive T-cells and B-cells produce auto-antibodies that attack self-tissues, disturbing immune tolerance. This leads to tissue damage and chronic inflammation.
- Genetic and Environmental Factors
Autoimmune disease is often linked to genetics, which means it is mostly inherited from family. For example, if one parent has rheumatoid arthritis, then the child is at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis too.
Whereas, environmental factors like stress, bacterial infection, or certain medication is also the leading cause.
- Hormonal Change
Autoimmune diseases are more common in women than in men, which shows that estrogen plays an important role.
According to a study by Science Direct, Women face a significantly higher risk of autoimmune diseases than men, with prevalence rates showing 60-80% of cases occurring in females across global studies.
- Diet and Lifestyle
Unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and intake of tobacco products also contribute to autoimmune diseases.
- Vitamin D Deficiency
Low Vitamin D level also leads to autoimmune diseases, causing rheumatoid arthritis in people.
What Are The Symptoms Of Autoimmune Disease?
Fatigue, pain, and inflammation, muscle weakness, skin problems, digestive issues, numbness, recurring infection, hair loss, and swollen glands.
Common Autoimmune Diseases
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
What it is: it’s a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain in joints, sometimes leading to potential joint damage.
It affects the joints of fingers, toes, hands, wrists, knees, elbows, hips, and shoulders.
- Type 1 Diabetes
What it is: In this, the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to an increase in blood sugar level.
It affects the pancreas, impacts blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, heart, and the eyes.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
What it is: In this, the nervous system attacks the protective covering (myelin sheath) of nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and demyelination.
It affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve, leading to vision loss, muscle weakness, and numbness.
- Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
What it is: It’s a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissues, causing inflammation.
It affects the skin (rashes), joints (pain and swelling), kidneys (lupus nephritis), heart (chest pain), brain (headaches and seizures), and blood (anemia and clotting issues).
- Psoriasis
What it is: It’s a chronic autoimmune disease where T-cells cause rapid skin cell growth, forming thick, red, and scaly plaques.
It affects elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, and nails.
- Celiac Disease
What it is: This is triggered by gluten (protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) consumption and causes the immune system to attack the small intestine.
It affects the small intestine and leads to diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and weight loss.
How Researchers Study Autoimmune Diseases
Role Of Protein:
Researchers study autoimmune disease to study how the immune system starts attacking its own cells and organs. Protein plays a key role in the functioning of the immune system.
Measuring Protein Level:
To study these diseases, scientists measure the protein level in the body. These proteins help researchers understand what is happening inside the body.
For example, when there is inflammation in the body, certain proteins are produced in the body in higher amounts, like “C-reactive protein” (CRP), causing chronic conditions like rheumatoid Arthritis.
By measuring the level of CRP and other proteins, researchers identify the “biomarkers.” This helps them understand if the disease is present, how severe it is.
Researchers also use protein measurement to see the treatment effect. For example,
The total protein Assay Kit helps researchers understand how protein levels change after a patient starts a new treatment.
Final Thought
Research is bringing new hope and advancement with new treatments and tests for autoimmune disease.
With a balanced lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and keeping updated with the causes and symptoms of these autoimmune diseases, one can keep themself safe and healthy.
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