1.1 Introduction
Autoantibodies are antibodies produced by the immune system that mistakenly target and react with a person’s own tissues or organs. Unlike normal antibodies that defend against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, autoantibodies attack the body’s own cells, leading to autoimmune diseases (Mackay & Rose, 2020). Many autoimmune diseases (notably lupus erythematosus) are caused by such autoantibodies. Sometimes, the immune system ceases to recognize one or more of the body's normal constituents as "self," leading to production of pathological autoantibodies. Autoantibodies may also play a nonpathological role; for instance they may help the body to destroy cancers and to eliminate waste products. The role of autoantibodies in normal immune function is also a subject of scientific research.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In autoimmune diseases, autoantibodies may be the actual pathogenetic agents of the disease, the secondary consequences of tissue damage, or the harmless footprints of an etiologic agent. Establishing a pathogenetic role for autoantibodies requires that they meet stringent criteria. It appears that the location of the presumptive target antigen most critically influences the pathogenetic potential of autoantibodies. Autoantibodies directed against cell surface targets, such as hormone receptors, are clearly pathogenetic; those directed against extracellular targets, such as circulating molecules or extracellular matrix, may or may not cause any damage (Annualreviews, 2021).
The first auto-antibodies were discovered in the late 1940s, when both antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and rheumatoid factors (RFs) were described as serum factors that could bind nuclear antigens and immunoglobulins, respectively (Robbins et al., 1957). ANA and RF were recognized as diagnostic features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or RA, respectively, and as contributors to disease pathogenesis. It is now becoming increasingly clear that auto-antibodies play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and those auto-antibodies mediate both systemic inflammation and tissue injury (Miescher, 1954). The auto-antibodies associated with the autoimmune diseases SLE and RA, and we discuss the recent developments on the generation of auto-reactivity and the contribution of these antibodies to disease pathogenesis.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Roles of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Diseases.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Autoantibodies are important for diagnostic purposes and may not directly influence the outcome of the disease. However, an increasing number of autoantibodies have been directly linked to inflammation, cell death, or functional problems. Autoantibodies (AA) are a serological hallmark of most autoimmune diseases. In contrast to genetic markers that show a predisposition for disease development, certain AA serve as diagnostic biomarkers and classification criteria for a number of these conditions.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Roles of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Diseases. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the factors instigating the Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district
- To identify the contributions of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does the contribution of Autoantibodies serve as a remedy for Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district?
- What are the factors instigating the Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: There is no significant contribution of Autoantibodies towards mitigating the Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district
- H1: There is significant contribution of Autoantibodies towards mitigating the Autoimmune Diseases in Warri-South district
1.7 Significance of Study
Autoantibodies are important for diagnostic purposes and may not directly influence the outcome of the disease. This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Roles of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Diseases using Warri-South District in Delta State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Auto-Antibodies: An autoantibody is an antibody (a type of protein) produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual's own proteins. Many autoimmune diseases (notably lupus erythematosus) are caused by such autoantibodies (Wikipedia, 2021).
Autoimmune: Autoimmune disease happens when the body's natural defense system can't tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to mistakenly attack normal cells (Hopkinsmedicine, 2021).
Autoimmune Diseases: Autoimmune diseases are disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body. This occurs when autoantibodies or immune cells fail to recognize self-antigens, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Common autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis (Davidson & Diamond, 2021).
Antigen: An antigen is any substance that the immune system identifies as foreign or dangerous, prompting the production of antibodies. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system misidentifies the body’s own proteins as antigens, leading to an autoimmune response (Abbas, Lichtman, & Pillai, 2022).
Pathogenesis: Pathogenesis refers to the biological mechanisms through which a disease develops. in the context of autoimmune diseases, it involves the complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and immunological factors that lead to the production of autoantibodies and subsequent tissue damage (Steinman, 2019).
Immunological Tolerance: Immunological tolerance is the ability of the immune system to differentiate between self and non-self antigens, preventing the immune response from attacking the body’s own cells. A breakdown in this tolerance is a key factor in the development of autoimmune diseases (Goodnow, 2020).
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