PsychologyAugust 10, 2026
autoantibodies
AW-toh-AN-tee-bah-deez
Definition
Immune system proteins produced by the body that mistakenly target and attack its own healthy cells or tissues.
Etymology
The word combines the Greek prefix 'auto-' meaning 'self' with 'antibody,' a term coined in the late 19th century to describe blood proteins that counteract foreign substances. 'Autoantibodies' specifically refers to the pathological phenomenon where these defenses misidentify 'self' as a threat.
In the news
In this article, the authors note that in conditions like NMOSD, autoantibodies are responsible for selectively destroying astrocytes, necessitating the brain's natural regenerative mechanisms to repair the damage.
Regenerative Astrocytes Repair Brain Damage
Read the full article ↗Neuroscience News