Autoimmune Diseases

Introduction

The immune system is essential to survival, and even a modest decrease in immune function can leave a person susceptible to infection. But the immune system itself can also cause disease, by inappropriately attacking the body’s own organs, tissues, or cells.

More than 80 autoimmune diseases have been described to date. Some, such as type 1 diabetes, attack specific organs, while others, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), involve multiple organs. Although many autoimmune diseases are rare, collectively they affect approximately 5 to 8 percent of the U.S. population. A disproportionate number of people with autoimmune disorders are women. For unknown reasons, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases is increasing.

Although researchers have made considerable progress in understanding the immune mechanisms that mediate tissue injury in autoimmune diseases, much remains to be learned. In particular, scientists are studying the causes of these diseases, the genetic factors that make people susceptible to them, and the regulatory mechanisms that control autoantibody production. NIAID is committed to advancing the understanding of how and why autoimmune diseases occur, and to promoting the application of basic research to clinical investigations in order to develop more effective therapeutic approaches and prevention strategies.