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The immune system is a network of biological systems that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens , from viruses to bacteria , as well as cancer cells , parasitic worms , and also objects such as wood splinters , distinguishing them from the organism's own healthy tissue .
A class of diseases, some of which may be autoimmune. Erythroblastosis fetalis: Mother's immune system attacks fetus. An immune system disorder but not autoimmune. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: Possibly an immune system disorder but not autoimmune. Gastrointestinal pemphigoid: No consistent evidence of association with autoimmunity.
Primary immune diseases are at risk to an increased susceptibility to, and often recurrent ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis or skin infections. Immunodeficient patients may less frequently develop abscesses of their internal organs, autoimmune or rheumatologic and gastrointestinal problems. [7] Primary immune deficiencies
The complement system is part of the innate as well as the adaptive immune system; it is a group of circulating proteins that can bind pathogens and form a membrane attack complex. Complement deficiencies are the result of a lack of any of these proteins. They may predispose to infections but also to autoimmune conditions. [7]
Immune dysregulation is any proposed or confirmed breakdown or maladaptive change in molecular control of immune system processes. For example, dysregulation is a component in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and some cancers .
Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) are a group of rare disorders caused by dysfunction of the innate immune system. These responses are characterized by periodic or chronic systemic inflammation , usually without the involvement of adaptive immunity.
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a condition seen in some cases of HIV/AIDS or immunosuppression, in which the immune system begins to recover, but then responds to a previously acquired opportunistic infection with an overwhelming inflammatory response that paradoxically makes the symptoms of infection worse.
The decreased ability of the immune system to clear infections in these patients may be responsible for causing autoimmunity through perpetual immune system activation. [18] One example is common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) where multiple autoimmune diseases are seen, e.g., inflammatory bowel disease , autoimmune thrombocytopenia , and ...