self-antigen

or self an·ti·gen

[ self-an-ti-juhn, -jen ]

noun

, Immunology.

1. autoantigen.

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-antigen¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

“Basically, you need three ingredients: self-antigen, an inflammatory environment and autoimmune predisposition,” he says.

From Scientific American

Researchers have long suspected that a self-antigen—a normal molecule in the body that the immune system mistakenly treats as a threat—can trigger MS.

From Science Magazine

Now, researchers may have pinpointed a long-sought molecule called a self-antigen that provokes these attacks, pointing a way toward potential new treatments.

From Science Magazine

PSA is a self-antigen: it is made by healthy, as well as cancerous, prostate tissue.

From Nature

Researchers have discovered additional targets for treating prostate cancer, and some believe that the immune system may be able to mount a better response to vaccines that target an antigen that is unique to the tumour, rather than a self-antigen such as PSA — or to one that targets multiple antigens.

From Nature