The human body is wondrous and complicated— it has its own system of defence known as the immune system. Apart from several natural barriers that protect our vulnerable organs from external damage, our immune system also produces antibodies. These are proteins that interact and attack invading pathogens (antigens) with the help of effector T and B cells. Autoimmunity occurs when the body's defence mechanism fails to distinguish between antigens and healthy cells and tissues. Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include – Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Type I Diabetes, Lupus, and Celiac Disease. Studies show that several factors trigger autoimmune responses, some even affecting our gut health.
Genetics are significant as autoimmune triggers because they are often inherited. Researchers have identified positive correlations between particular genetic configurations (HLA DR2, HLA DR3, HLA DR4) and certain autoimmune conditions like Lupus, Type I Diabetes and RA. It is also believed that Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) can be transmitted genetically.
