Autoimmune Disease (AID) is a kind of diseases in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own normal cells or tissues, resulting in inflammation and damage. More than 100 types of AID have been identified with a prevalence rate of up to 15%. The presence of one or more autoantibodies (AAb) in the serum is an important marker of AID. Detecting AAb during a physical examination can help diagnose AID, monitor the activity of AID and the effectiveness of treatment, and prevent the occurrence and development of AID.

1. Autoantibody

Autoantibodies(AAb) are antibodies produced by the human immune system that targets self-tissues. They typically include natural autoantibodies and pathological autoantibodies. Natural autoantibodies are usually IgM class and encoded by unmutated V(D)J genes, with low affinity for self-antigens. Natural autoantibodies provide the first line of defense against infections and have certain physiological functions, such as maintaining cell function and regulating immune system homeostasis. In contrast, IgG class autoantibodies, which are generated through somatic cell mutations and highly affinitive for self-antigens, reflect a pathological process. They may lead to the clearance of normal cells, disruption of antigen-receptor signaling or cellular effector functions, and consequently result in self-histopathological lesions-induced autoimmune diseases.

2. Types of Autoimmune Diseases

Currently, over 100 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, which can be broadly categorized into two types: Organ-Specific Autoimmune Diseases and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.

Organ-Specific Autoimmune Diseases: These diseases involve immune responses primarily targeting specific organs or tissues. Common examples of organ-specific autoimmune diseases include autoimmune thyroid diseases(AITD), Psoriasis,Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Myasthenia Gravis, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Type I diabetes(T1DM), etc.

Systemic Autoimmune Diseases: In contrast, systemic autoimmune diseases involve multiple organs and tissues, with immune responses affecting various systems throughout the body. Some common examples of systemic autoimmune diseases include Systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet’s disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory bowel disease, Scleroderma, Systemic Vasculitis, etc.

Fig. 1. Causes and common symptoms of autoimmune diseases(from: NIEHS).

3. FineTest AID ELISA Kits

FineTest is committed to offering researchers highly accurate and sensitive autoimmune antibody ELISA kits, covering a variety of common IgG or IgM type autoantibodies such as anti-dsDNA antibodies, anti-nucleosome antibodies, insulin antibodies, and rheumatoid factor antibodies. These kits contribute to the study of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and changes in biomarkers.