autoimmune

American  

[aw-toh-i-myoon] / ˌɔ toʊ ɪˈmyun /

adjective

Immunology.

1. of or relating to the immune response of an organism against any of its own tissues, cells, or cell components.

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autoimmune British  

/ ˌɔːtəʊɪˈmjuːn /

adjective

1. (of a disease) caused by the action of antibodies produced against substances normally present in the body

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• autoimmunity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of autoimmune

First recorded in 1950–55; auto- ¹ + immune

Explanation

When a condition or illness is described as autoimmune, it means the body's immune system is attacking the body's own cells or tissues. Lupus is one example of an autoimmune disease. Your immune system sends out antibodies to attack bacteria and viruses that shouldn't be in your body. When this system mistakenly attacks substances that are meant to be in your body, it can cause all kinds of problems — this is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune is a medical term that's been around since the 1950s, from auto-, "self," and immune, "exempt from a disease."