When my son was a baby, they diagnosed him with a form of Primary Immune Deficiency Disorder (PIDD). I remember they told me and my wife that PIDD have an association with Autoimmunity, so we might want to prepare for the future, but it will took quite long. It didn’t. He got his first Autoimmune reaction at the age of 4.
I took that on a note, but my brain truly could not understand how a low and impaired immune system can causes Autoimmunity, when Autoimmunity is a condition where your immune system is overdrive? (I’m a layperson, please correct me).
Anyway, my son passed away, but I just still need to know. Please explain like I’m 5!
In: Biology
The mechanisms are very varied, complex, and not fully understood by science, but generally, the combination of factors that weaken the immune system in immune deficiency also deregulate it, and weaken the checks that usually stop a healthy immune system from attacking the self.
Indeed, autoimmune is not necessarily overdrive, though it’s a factor, but simply your immune system targeting yourself. When immune cells are created, plenty are faulty and would target yourself, but numerous checks and balances make sure they’re killed or not activated. Those do not work well in people afflicted by immune deficiency.
Autoimmune disorders are when your immune system attacks your own body. Auto means self, so it’s a self-attacking immune system.
Your immune system marks foreign cells like viruses or bacteria as dangerous, and then it sends white blood cells to attack the marked cells. Sometimes non-foreign cells get marked as dangerous, and the white blood cells end up attacking the body. That’s an autoimmune disorder.
Overdrive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s really strong; it’s just getting the wrong messages and sending out soldiers when they’re not needed.
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