The Biological Significance of Evolution in Autoimmune Phenomena

• Main Authors: Carlos A. Cañas, Felipe Cañas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
• Series: Autoimmune Diseases
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/784315

It is an inherent part of living to be in constant modification, which are due to answers resulting from environmental changes. The different systems make adaptations based on natural selection. With respect to the immune system of mammals, these changes have a lot to do with the interactions that occur continuously with other living species, especially microorganisms. The immune system is primarily designed to defend from germs and this response triggers inflammatory reactions which must be regulated in order not to generate damage to healthy tissue. The regulatory processes were added over time to prevent such damage. Through evolution the species have stored “an immunological experience,” which provides information that is important for developing effective responses in the future. The human species, which is at a high level of evolutionary immunological accumulation, have multiple immune defense strategies which, in turn, are highly regulated. Imbalances in these can result in autoimmunity.