Chapter 21.6, Problem 4AYLO

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The basic cause of immunodeficiency diseases and the specific cause of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID)

Introduction:

On some conditions, the immune system fails to distinguish between 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. Examples of immunodeficiency diseases are severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.