Clinical Significance

The immune system makes an abundance of proteins called antibodies. The antibodies recognize and combat infectious organisms (germs) in the body. Sometimes these antibodies make a mistake, identifying normal, naturally occurring proteins in our bodies as being “foreign” and dangerous. When these antibodies mistake a naturally occurring protein (or self-protein) as foreign, they are called a. A cascade of inflammation would be started by autoantibodies, causing the body to attack itself.

The antibodies that target “normal” proteins within the nucleus of a cell are called antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Most of us have autoantibodies, but typically in small amounts. The presence of a large amount of autoantibodies or ANAs can indicate an autoimmune disease.