Chapter 21, Problem 9TF

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

On some conditions, the immune system fails to differentiate among the self-antigen and foreign antigen (a condition called self-tolerance) and attack the body’s own tissues by producing autoantibodies. This autoantibody is also known as self-reactive antibodies. This self-reactive antibody attacks the body’s own tissues, which leads to an autoimmune disease. The basic cause of immunodeficiency diseases is the failure of the immune system to react (respond) strongly. Examples of immunodeficiency disease are acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID).