What is the immune response against the body's own cells called?

The immune response against the body's own cells is termed autoimmunity. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly identifies the body’s healthy cells as foreign entities and mounts an immune response against them. This can lead to various autoimmune diseases, where the immune system can cause damage to organs, tissues, and cells.

Autoimmunity plays a role in numerous conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, where the body’s defenses are misdirected against its own components. Understanding this concept is crucial for medical technologists, as they often perform tests that help diagnose these autoimmune diseases through the detection of autoantibodies or immunological markers indicative of such conditions.

In contrast to autoimmunity, immunodeficiency refers to a state where the immune system is underactive, making the body more susceptible to infections. Hypersensitivity involves exaggerated immune responses to non-self antigens, which can also lead to tissue damage but is distinct from the immune response against one's own cells. Non-specific immunity provides a general defense against pathogens but does not involve the specific targeting of self-cells or the development of antibodies specific to the body’s tissues.