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Overview

The immune system is a very complex and highly

developed system, yet it has a very simple mission, seek
and destroy invaders. When the immune system does not
function properly it leaves the body open for attacks from
an array of diseases. We classify these into three broad
categories; autoimmunity, immunodeficiencies, and
hypersensitivities.

Anything that can trigger the immune response is called an

antigen. An antigen can be a microbe such as a virus, or
even a part of a microbe. Tissues of cells from another
person also carry nonself markers and act as antigens.
This explains why tissue transplants can be rejected. In
abnormal situations, the immune system can mistake self
for nonself and launch an attack against the body's own
cells or tissues. The result is called an autoimmune
disease. Some forms of arthritis and diabetes are
autoimmune diseases. In other cases, the immune system
responds to a seemingly harmless foreign substance such
as a dust mite. The result is allergy, and this kind of
antigen is called an allergen.