Question

Environmental influences of autoimmunity

Answer 1

Bacterial and viral infections are thought to impact the autoimmune response by a process called molecular mimicry. This is when a foreign substance is shaped very similar to a naturally occurring substance in the body, essentially blending into the body like camouflage. Parasitic infections can induce inflammation in this manner, which is thought to impact the autoimmune response.

Occupational Exposures

Much of our knowledge about environmental dangers comes from occupational cohort studies. A cohort is a group of individuals who have a shared experience. In occupational or environmental health research, the study of workers who have had similar exposures, and are afflicted with similar conditions, has helped to identify possible associations of environmental exposures and certain diseases.

Nevertheless, researchers Molina and Shoenfeld have written, “The majority of the autoimmune connective tissue diseases have no known etiological agents. However, certain drugs, occupational and environmental actors have undoubtedly been shown to either exacerbate a known autoimmune disease or to trigger the onset of a syndrome that closely resembles one of the established diseases.”