Question

What are some factors that might contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease?

Short answer

The factors that might contribute to the development of autoimmune disease are:

• Innatemalfunctioning.
• Anevent.
• Cross-reactionwith endogenous substances.
• Breakdownof the immune system.

Step-by-step solution

Innate malfunctioning

Self-tolerance of the immune system starts after birth and goes on through the lifetime. However,when the immune system loses its self-tolerance, the innate malfunctioning leads to its inability to distinguish between self-antigens from its non-self antigens.

An event

Events, such as trauma or infection, can lead to the tissues getting exposed to the lymphocytes or the immune system, which that can lead to autoimmune disease.

Cross-reaction with endogenous substances

Antibodies to certain bacterial or viral antigens can cross-react with the endogenous substances leading to some autoimmune diseases.

Breakdown of the immune system

In some autoimmune diseases, generalized breakdown of the immune system can cause the generation of antibodies to several endogenous substances, such as DNA and phospholipids.