Autoantibodies are the immune proteins of our body. Their excessive activity is associated with the course of autoimmune diseases. How do autoantibodies affect our he alth? What is worth knowing about them?

Autoantibodiesare proteins that the body produces against the cells, namely antigens, of the body's own. Antigens are a type of special chemical tag that allows cells to identify each other. They can be located, for example, on their surface. Antibodies on their basis recognize the threat and attack. Then, the tissues and organs of our body are damaged. The body attacks itself because the immune system gets confused and recognizes its own cells as foreign.

Autoantibodies can also play a non-pathological role in our body. For example, they can be helpful in destroying cancer cells. The role of these proteins in the proper functioning of the immune system is still under research. They probably still have many functions that we don't know about.

All antibodies are made by the immune system. They are designed to protect our body against external factors that could damage it. In order to properly defend us, immune cells learn to recognize our body's antigens from those that may be dangerous.

Where do autoantibodies come from?

We still don't know why the body produces proteins that attack its own tissues. However, we know the factors that can stimulate this process. It is believed that ancestral features may play a role in this pathological process. However, there is no direct genetic link. Typically, in order for autoantibody production to be activated, an environmental trigger is needed in an individual with the appropriate genes.

The stimuli that initiate the production of these immunological proteins are, for example :

  • viruses
  • toxic chemicals

It is now also assumed that the production of autoantibodies can be stimulated by hormones produced by our body. This is indicated by a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases in women of childbearing age who have higher blood levels of some of these substances.

Autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases

Increased level of autoantibodiesappears in the course of autoimmune diseases. It is a group of diseases in which the immune system destroys its own body. Blood autoantibody determinations are used in the diagnosis of these diseases.

We can list the following conditions here:

  • lupus
  • progressive systemic sclerosis
  • Sjogren's team
  • polymyositis
  • dermatomyositis
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • Wegener's granulomatosis
  • mixed connective tissue disease
  • ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn's disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • Vitiligo
  • psoriasis
  • sarcoidosis

The type of autoimmune disorder depends on which systems or organs are the target of the autoantibodies. Disorders caused by organ-specific autoantibodies are often the easiest to diagnose. This is because they exhibit organ-related symptoms. Examples include Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease.

Abnormalities resulting from overproduction of systemic autoantibodies can be much more difficult to detect. Symptoms of these diseases can include:

  • joint pain
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • rash
  • allergic symptoms
  • weight loss
  • muscle weakness

All these he alth problems may appear in the course of various diseases. These symptoms are not very specific, which makes proper diagnosis difficult.

Autoantibodies in disease diagnosis

The first step in a diagnosis of autoimmune disorders is to analyze your complete medical history. After that, a physical examination by a doctor is necessary. Based on the patient's symptoms, diagnostic tests may be recommended. Their purpose is to facilitate the identification of a specific disease. The tests may include:

  • blood tests to assess levels of inflammatory markers and autoantibodies
  • radiological examinations
  • biopsies

Why and when are the presence and level of antibodies tested?

Laboratory tests on the presence and level of antibodies are usually recommended in the presence of symptoms such as:

  • chronic progressive arthritis
  • non-infectious fever
  • chronic fatigue
  • muscle weakness
  • rashes

The first test that is generally recommended by your doctor is the ANA test. It assesses the presence of a marker of autoimmune processes in the blood.A positive result is found in many different diseases. It is not a specific test, but it does allow you to determine the nature of the disease.

If the result is positive in the ANA test, further tests are recommended. Examples of frequently recommended tests:

  • rheumatoid factor (RF)
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or ESR
  • C-reactive protein (CRP)

A single test for the presence and level of autoantibodies is not sufficient to make a correct diagnosis. The purpose of the test is to determine the likelihood of the disease being present. Each test result must be considered individually by a physician with regard to symptoms and medical history.

Laboratory testing of antibody levels is for:

  • diagnostics of systemic autoimmune disorders
  • assessment of the degree of organ damage, in conjunction with other tests
  • monitoring the course of the disease and treatment effectiveness
About the authorSara Janowska, MA in pharmacyPhD student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at the Medical University of Lublin and the Institute of Biotechnology in Białystok. A graduate of pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Lublin with a specialization in Plant Medicine. She obtained a master's degree defending a thesis in the field of pharmaceutical botany on the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from twenty species of mosses. Currently, in his research work, he deals with the synthesis of new anti-cancer substances and the study of their properties on cancer cell lines. For two years she worked as a master of pharmacy in an open pharmacy.

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Immune system