The Human Immune System is an excellent example of variety in cell structure and function

1
The Human Immune System is an excellent example
of variety in cell structure and function
2
Basic Information
In order to understand how these cells function,
we need to have a general understanding of the
immune system itself.
3
Basic Information
In order to understand how these cells function,
we need to have a general understanding of the
immune system itself.
The job of your immune system is to keep foreign
substances, usually called pathogens, from
invading and infecting your body.
4
Basic Information
In order to understand how these cells function,
we need to have a general understanding of the
immune system itself.
The job of your immune system is to keep foreign
substances, usually called pathogens, from
invading and infecting your body.
One of the major challenges of the immune system
is to be able to quickly and efficiently identify
your own (self) cells so that only pathogens
are targeted.
5
Basic Information
In order to understand how these cells function,
we need to have a general understanding of the
immune system itself.
The job of your immune system is to keep foreign
substances, usually called pathogens, from
invading and infecting your body.
One of the major challenges of the immune system
is to be able to quickly and efficiently identify
your own (self) cells so that only pathogens
are targeted.
A number of different organs and tissues are
needed for this to occur.
6
The Phagocytes Phagocytes are the soldiers of
the immune system, and provide innate immunity.
They are responsible for swallowing, killing and
digesting invading microbes. The process of
swallowing microbes is known as phagocytosis.
There are two main types of phagocyte
Microphages. These cells are also known as
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, PMNs and
Polymorphs. These cells start life in the bone
marrow. They are constantly circulating in the
blood. They cannot replicate, and live for only a
few days. The bone marrow contains large reserves
of microphages. Macrophages. These cells
start out life as monocytes, which originate in
the stem cells in the bone marrow, but when they
are first called into action, they turn into
macrophages. Macrophages are not as numerous as
microphages, and there are no large reserves of
them, but they are longer lived than microphages.
Macrophages are stationed at strategic locations
throughout the body, usually in places that are
not otherwise well defended. These areas include
the alveoli of the lungs, the abdominal
(peritoneal) and chest (pleural) cavities, under
the top layer of the skin and the intestines.
Macrophages are the front line of defense against
microbial invasion in these areas. As mentioned
above, the process of swallowing of microbes by
the phagocytes is known as phagocytosis. After
the invading microbe has been swallowed, the next
task for the phagocyte is to kill the microbe.
This is achieved in two main ways.
Aerobically, i.e. using oxygen. The
phagocytes produce oxygen based chemicals that
are highly disruptive to the swallowed microbe.
Oxygen is highly chemically reactive, and these
oxygen based chemicals "tear" the microbe apart.
This process is known as the oxidative burst, or
the respiratory burst. Anaerobically, i.e.
without using oxygen. One way to kill the microbe
without oxygen is by using a chemical that
deprives the microbe of iron, thus preventing it
from metabolising. Another way is to increase the
acidity of the internal environment of the
phagocyte. When these tasks are complete, the
Macrophages have one further task to complete.
They return to the lymph nodes, displaying the
remnants of the destroyed invader on their
surface. This has the effect of stimulating the
cells of the Acquired immunity system into
action.
If a pathogen can get past these barriers, the
body must identify and remove it.
7
The Phagocytes Phagocytes are the soldiers of
the immune system, and provide innate immunity.
They are responsible for swallowing, killing and
digesting invading microbes. The process of
swallowing microbes is known as phagocytosis.
There are two main types of phagocyte
Microphages. These cells are also known as
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, PMNs and
Polymorphs. These cells start life in the bone
marrow. They are constantly circulating in the
blood. They cannot replicate, and live for only a
few days. The bone marrow contains large reserves
of microphages. Macrophages. These cells
start out life as monocytes, which originate in
the stem cells in the bone marrow, but when they
are first called into action, they turn into
macrophages. Macrophages are not as numerous as
microphages, and there are no large reserves of
them, but they are longer lived than microphages.
Macrophages are stationed at strategic locations
throughout the body, usually in places that are
not otherwise well defended. These areas include
the alveoli of the lungs, the abdominal
(peritoneal) and chest (pleural) cavities, under
the top layer of the skin and the intestines.
Macrophages are the front line of defense against
microbial invasion in these areas. As mentioned
above, the process of swallowing of microbes by
the phagocytes is known as phagocytosis. After
the invading microbe has been swallowed, the next
task for the phagocyte is to kill the microbe.
This is achieved in two main ways.
Aerobically, i.e. using oxygen. The
phagocytes produce oxygen based chemicals that
are highly disruptive to the swallowed microbe.
Oxygen is highly chemically reactive, and these
oxygen based chemicals "tear" the microbe apart.
This process is known as the oxidative burst, or
the respiratory burst. Anaerobically, i.e.
without using oxygen. One way to kill the microbe
without oxygen is by using a chemical that
deprives the microbe of iron, thus preventing it
from metabolising. Another way is to increase the
acidity of the internal environment of the
phagocyte. When these tasks are complete, the
Macrophages have one further task to complete.
They return to the lymph nodes, displaying the
remnants of the destroyed invader on their
surface. This has the effect of stimulating the
cells of the Acquired immunity system into
action.
If a pathogen can get past these barriers, the
body must identify and remove it.
-- The skin and the lining of the body cavities
that open to the outside must provide a
protective barrier.
8
The Phagocytes Phagocytes are the soldiers of
the immune system, and provide innate immunity.
They are responsible for swallowing, killing and
digesting invading microbes. The process of
swallowing microbes is known as phagocytosis.
There are two main types of phagocyte
Microphages. These cells are also known as
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, PMNs and
Polymorphs. These cells start life in the bone
marrow. They are constantly circulating in the
blood. They cannot replicate, and live for only a
few days. The bone marrow contains large reserves
of microphages. Macrophages. These cells
start out life as monocytes, which originate in
the stem cells in the bone marrow, but when they
are first called into action, they turn into
macrophages. Macrophages are not as numerous as
microphages, and there are no large reserves of
them, but they are longer lived than microphages.
Macrophages are stationed at strategic locations
throughout the body, usually in places that are
not otherwise well defended. These areas include
the alveoli of the lungs, the abdominal
(peritoneal) and chest (pleural) cavities, under
the top layer of the skin and the intestines.
Macrophages are the front line of defense against
microbial invasion in these areas. As mentioned
above, the process of swallowing of microbes by
the phagocytes is known as phagocytosis. After
the invading microbe has been swallowed, the next
task for the phagocyte is to kill the microbe.
This is achieved in two main ways.
Aerobically, i.e. using oxygen. The
phagocytes produce oxygen based chemicals that
are highly disruptive to the swallowed microbe.
Oxygen is highly chemically reactive, and these
oxygen based chemicals "tear" the microbe apart.
This process is known as the oxidative burst, or
the respiratory burst. Anaerobically, i.e.
without using oxygen. One way to kill the microbe
without oxygen is by using a chemical that
deprives the microbe of iron, thus preventing it
from metabolising. Another way is to increase the
acidity of the internal environment of the
phagocyte. When these tasks are complete, the
Macrophages have one further task to complete.
They return to the lymph nodes, displaying the
remnants of the destroyed invader on their
surface. This has the effect of stimulating the
cells of the Acquired immunity system into
action.
If a pathogen can get past these barriers, the
body must identify and remove it.
-- The skin and the lining of the body cavities
that open to the outside must provide a
protective barrier.
--The entrance to the organs like the gut and the
reproductive tract needs to prevent invasion by
any pathogenic micro organisms.
9
The Phagocytes Phagocytes are the soldiers of
the immune system, and provide innate immunity.
They are responsible for swallowing, killing and
digesting invading microbes. The process of
swallowing microbes is known as phagocytosis.
There are two main types of phagocyte
Microphages. These cells are also known as
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, PMNs and
Polymorphs. These cells start life in the bone
marrow. They are constantly circulating in the
blood. They cannot replicate, and live for only a
few days. The bone marrow contains large reserves
of microphages. Macrophages. These cells
start out life as monocytes, which originate in
the stem cells in the bone marrow, but when they
are first called into action, they turn into
macrophages. Macrophages are not as numerous as
microphages, and there are no large reserves of
them, but they are longer lived than microphages.
Macrophages are stationed at strategic locations
throughout the body, usually in places that are
not otherwise well defended. These areas include
the alveoli of the lungs, the abdominal
(peritoneal) and chest (pleural) cavities, under
the top layer of the skin and the intestines.
Macrophages are the front line of defense against
microbial invasion in these areas. As mentioned
above, the process of swallowing of microbes by
the phagocytes is known as phagocytosis. After
the invading microbe has been swallowed, the next
task for the phagocyte is to kill the microbe.
This is achieved in two main ways.
Aerobically, i.e. using oxygen. The
phagocytes produce oxygen based chemicals that
are highly disruptive to the swallowed microbe.
Oxygen is highly chemically reactive, and these
oxygen based chemicals "tear" the microbe apart.
This process is known as the oxidative burst, or
the respiratory burst. Anaerobically, i.e.
without using oxygen. One way to kill the microbe
without oxygen is by using a chemical that
deprives the microbe of iron, thus preventing it
from metabolising. Another way is to increase the
acidity of the internal environment of the
phagocyte. When these tasks are complete, the
Macrophages have one further task to complete.
They return to the lymph nodes, displaying the
remnants of the destroyed invader on their
surface. This has the effect of stimulating the
cells of the Acquired immunity system into
action.
If a pathogen can get past these barriers, the
body must identify and remove it.
-- The skin and the lining of the body cavities
that open to the outside must provide a
protective barrier.
--The entrance to the organs like the gut and the
reproductive tract needs to prevent invasion by
any pathogenic micro organisms.
--The mucosal membranes secrete a variety of
fluids, such as saliva by the intestinal tract
and mucus in the respiratory tract, which provide
a defense against foreign micro-organisms.
10
The Phagocytes Phagocytes are the soldiers of
the immune system, and provide innate immunity.
They are responsible for swallowing, killing and
digesting invading microbes. The process of
swallowing microbes is known as phagocytosis.
There are two main types of phagocyte
Microphages. These cells are also known as
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, PMNs and
Polymorphs. These cells start life in the bone
marrow. They are constantly circulating in the
blood. They cannot replicate, and live for only a
few days. The bone marrow contains large reserves
of microphages. Macrophages. These cells
start out life as monocytes, which originate in
the stem cells in the bone marrow, but when they
are first called into action, they turn into
macrophages. Macrophages are not as numerous as
microphages, and there are no large reserves of
them, but they are longer lived than microphages.
Macrophages are stationed at strategic locations
throughout the body, usually in places that are
not otherwise well defended. These areas include
the alveoli of the lungs, the abdominal
(peritoneal) and chest (pleural) cavities, under
the top layer of the skin and the intestines.
Macrophages are the front line of defense against
microbial invasion in these areas. As mentioned
above, the process of swallowing of microbes by
the phagocytes is known as phagocytosis. After
the invading microbe has been swallowed, the next
task for the phagocyte is to kill the microbe.
This is achieved in two main ways.
Aerobically, i.e. using oxygen. The
phagocytes produce oxygen based chemicals that
are highly disruptive to the swallowed microbe.
Oxygen is highly chemically reactive, and these
oxygen based chemicals "tear" the microbe apart.
This process is known as the oxidative burst, or
the respiratory burst. Anaerobically, i.e.
without using oxygen. One way to kill the microbe
without oxygen is by using a chemical that
deprives the microbe of iron, thus preventing it
from metabolising. Another way is to increase the
acidity of the internal environment of the
phagocyte. When these tasks are complete, the
Macrophages have one further task to complete.
They return to the lymph nodes, displaying the
remnants of the destroyed invader on their
surface. This has the effect of stimulating the
cells of the Acquired immunity system into
action.
If a pathogen can get past these barriers, the
body must identify and remove it.
-- The skin and the lining of the body cavities
that open to the outside must provide a
protective barrier.
--The entrance to the organs like the gut and the
reproductive tract needs to prevent invasion by
any pathogenic micro organisms.
--The mucosal membranes secrete a variety of
fluids, such as saliva by the intestinal tract
and mucus in the respiratory tract, which provide
a defense against foreign micro-organisms.
-- The body carries its own natural
microorganisms that we happily live with, which
also prevent other more dangerous bugs from
taking over. --Adapted from www.julies-story.org
11
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
12
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
13
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
14
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
15
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
16
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
17
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
About 5 of the cellular elements in blood are
platelets. These are cell pieces that are used
for blood clotting.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
18
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
About 5 of the cellular elements in blood are
platelets. These are cell pieces that are used
for blood clotting.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
19
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
About 5 of the cellular elements are platelets.
These are cell pieces that are used for blood
clotting.
Much less than 1 of blood contains white blood
cells, (leukocytes), they are vitally
important in fighting infection.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
20
Blood
There are three major components to human blood.
Human blood is approximately 55 plasma, which is
the fluid part of the blood with ions, proteins
and other substances dissolved in it.
The cellular elements blood make up the other
45. Almost 95 of these are red blood cells
(erythrocytes) that carry oxygen in the blood.
About 5 of the cellular elements are platelets.
These are cell pieces that are used for blood
clotting.
Much less than 1 of blood contains white blood
cells, (leukocytes), they are vitally
important in fighting infection.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
21
Cell Sizes
The red blood cells are approximately 8 um across
and are generally very regular in their size and
shape.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
22
Cell Sizes
The red blood cells are approximately 8 um across
and are generally very regular in their size and
shape.
Platelets are about one third to one half as
large as red blood cells, about 2-4 um across.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
23
Cell Sizes
The red blood cells are approximately 8 um across
and are generally very regular in their size and
shape.
Platelets are about one third to one half as
large as red blood cells, about 2-4 um across.
White blood cells are often larger than the red
cells, generally 9 - 12 um across. This
measurement may vary a great deal since there are
many different types of white blood cells.
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
24
Cell Sizes
For comparison, lets look at a photograph of a
human cheek cell (50 um) shown at the same scale
as our blood cells
25
Cell Sizes
For comparison, lets look at a photograph of a
human cheek cell (50 um) shown at the same scale
as our blood cells
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
Imagehttp//www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecgu
ide/unit1/prostruct/euproreview/epit.html
26
Cell Sizes
For comparison, lets look at a photograph of a
human cheek cell (50 um) shown at the same scale
as our blood cells
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
Here you can see the stained nucleus and the
small, darkly stained bacteria that are all over
the surface of the cheek cell.
Imagehttp//www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecgu
ide/unit1/prostruct/euproreview/epit.html
27
Cell Sizes
For comparison, lets look at a photograph of a
human cheek cell (50 um) shown at the same scale
as our blood cells
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
Here you can see the stained nucleus and the
small, darkly stained bacteria that are all over
the surface of the cheek cell.
Notice that typical blood cells are smaller than
even the nucleus of a cheek cell.
Imagehttp//www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecgu
ide/unit1/prostruct/euproreview/epit.html
28
Cell Sizes
For comparison, lets look at a photograph of a
human cheek cell (50 um) shown at the same scale
as our blood cells
Imagehttp//www.nursing.ucla.edu/Userpages/mwoo/c
bc/smear.htm
Here you can see the stained nucleus and the
small, darkly stained bacteria that are all over
the surface of the cheek cell.
Notice that typical blood cells are smaller than
even the nucleus of a cheek cell.
Imagehttp//www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecgu
ide/unit1/prostruct/euproreview/epit.html
29
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
30
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
All of them play an important role in fighting
disease.
31
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
All of them play an important role in fighting
disease.
1. Neutrophils leave the blood to go to tissues
where infection or inflammation is developing.
They mainly engulf and destroy bacteria and
fungi.
32
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
All of them play an important role in fighting
disease.
1. Neutrophils leave the blood to go to tissues
where infection or inflammation is developing.
They mainly engulf and destroy bacteria and
fungi.
Normal Red Blood Cell
33
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
All of them play an important role in fighting
disease.
1. Neutrophils leave the blood to go to tissues
where infection or inflammation is developing.
They mainly engulf and destroy bacteria and
fungi.
Normal Red Blood Cell
Neutrophil
34
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
2. Eosinophils attack organisms that are too big
to be eaten by a single phagocyte, like worms.
35
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
2. Eosinophils attack organisms that are too big
to be eaten by a single phagocyte, like worms.
This image shows red blood cells R, a
neutrophil N and an eosinophil E.
Imagehttp//www.cytochemistry.net/microanatomy/bl
ood/blood_cells.htmRED20BLOOD20CELLS
36
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
3. Basophils do not attack and swallow invading
cells they release chemical that help the
bodys allergic response to a pathogen.
37
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
3. Basophils do not attack and swallow invading
cells they release chemical that help the
bodys allergic response to a pathogen.
Basophil surrounded by red blood cells.
38
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
4. Monocytes are cells released into the blood
from the bone marrow. When they get to a
particular site in an organism they may change
into macrophages that engulf and destroy invading
pathogens.
39
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
4. Monocytes are cells released into the blood
from the bone marrow. When they get to a
particular site in an organism they may change
into macrophages that engulf and destroy invading
pathogens.
Red blood cells
Monocyte
Image http//image.bloodline.net/stories/storyRea
der1628
40
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
41
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
42
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
-B-lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow.
43
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
-B-lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow.
-T-lymphocytes develop in the thymus.
44
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
-B-lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow.
-T-lymphocytes develop in the thymus.
Lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow, but can
proliferate in the spleen, thymus and other
lymphoid tissues. Often, large lymphocytes seen
in the blood have been activated somewhere in the
body, and are traveling to sites of action.
Imagehttp//oac.med.jhmi.edu/pathconcepts/ShowIma
ge.cfm?TutorialID7ConceptID27ImageID259
45
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
-B-lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow.
-T-lymphocytes develop in the thymus.
Both B- and T- cells are covered with many
different molecules. If one of these matches up
with a molecule of a pathogen, the B- or T-cell
may engulf the pathogen and destroy it. Then the
body can make many, many copies of this cell to
fight the pathogen.
46
There are 5 major types of white blood cells
(leukocytes).
5. Lymphocytes are the fifth group of white blood
cells they are divided into three categories
-Natural killer cells attack tumor cells and some
cells that have been infected with viruses.
-B-lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow.
-T-lymphocytes develop in the thymus.
Both B- and T- cells are covered with many
different molecules. If one of these matches up
with a molecule of a pathogen, the B- or T-cell
may engulf the pathogen and destroy it. Then the
body can make many, many copies of this cell to
fight the pathogen.
The body keeps a memory of every B- or T- cell
that has been activated and it is able to attack
that particular foreign body almost instantly if
it appears again.
47
Why should I care about the immune system?
48
Why should I care about the immune system?
Like many parts of the body, we learn a great
deal about the immune system by studying what
happens when it doesnt work properly.
49
Why should I care about the immune system?
Like many parts of the body, we learn a great
deal about the immune system by studying what
happens when it doesnt work properly.
Sometimes the body is no longer able to recognize
certain normally occurring cell types. When this
happens the immune system identifies these as
foreign cells and begins to attack them. This
results in an autoimmune disease.
50
Why should I care about the immune system cells?
Like many parts of the body, we learn a great
deal about the immune system by studying what
happens when it doesnt work properly.
Sometimes the body is no longer able to recognize
certain normally occurring cell types. When this
happens the immune system identifies these as
foreign cells and begins to attack them. This
results in an autoimmune disease.
Of the scores of autoimmune diseases the have
been discovered, some of the more common are
51
Why should I care about the immune system cells?
Like many parts of the body, we learn a great
deal about the immune system by studying what
happens when it doesnt work properly.
Sometimes the body is no longer able to recognize
certain normally occurring cell types. When this
happens the immune system identifies these as
foreign cells and begins to attack them. This
results in an autoimmune disease.
Of the scores of autoimmune diseases the have
been discovered, some of the more common are
Nervous System Gastrointestinal
System Multiple sclerosis Crohn's
Disease Myasthenia gravis Ulcerative
colitis Blood Endocrine Glands Autoimmune
hemolytic anemia Type 1 or immune-mediated
diabetes mellitus Pernicious anemia Grave's
Disease Multiple Organs Including the
Musculoskeletal System Rheumatoid
arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosus Scleroderma
Skin Psoriasis    
http//www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/autoimmune/a
utoimmune.htmwhat