Autoimmunity

The immune system is the basis by which the body naturally protects itself against invasion from foreign bodies. The immune system has the capability of recognizing the difference between self and non-self.  With autoimmune diseases, the immune system becomes unregulated and is unable to recognize the difference between self and non-self; resulting in attack of the body’s own cells. There are many types of autoimmune disease, which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.   In many autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled activation of inflammatory pathways causes serious tissue damage often resulting in pain and discomfort.  Examples of autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.