autoantibody

[ aw-toh-an-ti-bod-ee, -an-tee- ]

noun

, Immunology.

, plural au·to·an·ti·bod·ies.

1. an antibody that an organism produces against any of its own tissues, cells, or cell components.

autoantibody

/ ˌɔːtəʊˈæntɪˌbɒdɪ /

noun

1. an antibody reacting with an antigen that is a part of the organism in which the antibody is formed

autoantibody

/ ô′tō-ăn′tĭ-bŏd′ē /

1. An antibody that reacts with the cells, tissues, or native proteins of the individual in which it is produced. Autoimmune diseases are caused by the presence of autoantibodies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of autoantibody¹

First recorded in 1905–10; auto- ¹ + antibody

Example Sentences

These preexisting autoantibodies, likely created by previous infections, were still lurking around and appeared to be mistakenly attacking other immune cells.

From MIT Technology Review

When Aaron Ring began testing blood samples collected from covid-19 patients who had come through Yale–New Haven Hospital last March and April, he expected to see a type of immune cell known as an autoantibody in at least some of them.

From MIT Technology Review

Ring’s autoantibody tests showed that in some patients—even some with mild cases of covid—the rogue immune cells were marking blood cells for attack.

From MIT Technology Review

The original version of this story misstated the definition of autoantibodies.

From Time

However, they were tested during infection for autoantibodies found in a variety of disorders.

From No Straight News