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Complement components and their autoantibodies
1Rhuematology Section, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.
Molecular Biotechnology
|April 1, 2003
Abstract:
The purpose of the immune system is to defend the host from constantly changing microbial pathogens. Autoimmune diseases develop as a consequence of the production of antibodies and/or cells that react with self-antigens, and may recruit other effector mechanisms that result in tissue damage. Thus, in this context, autoimmunity represents an immune response to self-antigens that is sufficient to cause disease. This article is specifically devoted to autoantibodies directed against complement components.