Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity is when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body

The electrically powered auto emu (autoimmunity) attacked its own battery cell and put itself out of action.

Example of an autoimmune attack

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. Our immune system, which normally protects us from viruses and bacteria, attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, called beta cells, which produce insulin.

Insulin is vital – it is what moves energy obtained from your food, called glucose, from your blood into your body’s cells. Without insulin, glucose levels in the blood start to rise and the body cannot function properly.

Type one diabetes is the immune system attacking beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. Insulin is a very important substance as it moves energy such as glucose from the blood to cells.

The auto emu that attacked its own battery has a dyed beak (diabetes) to show that its autoimmune disease is diabetes.

Other autoimmune diseases include:

Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammation of joints and surrounding tissue

Pernicious anaemia – decrease in red blood cells caused by inability to absorb vitamin B12

Psoriasis

Psoriasis (illustrated below): skin condition that causes redness and irritation as well as thick, flaky, silver-white patches

In Psoriasis it is thought the immune system attacks healthy skin cells by mistake and causes red flaky and crusty patches of skin