Autoimmune diseases are diseases of “mistaken identity”, where the immune system – which is supposed to protect us against infectious diseases and neoplasias – mistakenly attacks and destroys components of our own body.
The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing on a worldwide basis, and these diseases – including type 1 diabetes (T1D), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – now affect up to 5% of the population in different regions. There is no cure for autoimmune diseases, and while the immune target of T1D, SLE, MS, and RA are distinct, they share several similar elements, including up to 50% common genetic risk, chronic local inflammation and mechanisms mediating target tissue damage.
