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

Altogether, they and Barcelona colleague Francesc Graus have uncovered 11 of the 18 known varieties: a rogue’s gallery with sharply different symptoms depending on the autoantibody responsible.

From Science Magazine

In adapting the technique to treat autoimmune disease, the team gave T cells a beacon derived from bits of the anti-DSG3 autoantibody, which leads the killers straight to anti-DSG3 B cells.

From Scientific American

These cells are the actual agents of destruction, so scientists investigating autoimmunity look for these T cell–autoantibody pairs.

From Scientific American

“We really see broadly reactive autoantibody responses in these patients,” Dr. Iwasaki said.

From New York Times

Rather than one type of autoantibody being to blame, the scientists believe that Covid-19 is worsened when many different wayward antibodies arise in the same patient.

From The Guardian