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menooby OP t1_j30zzh7 wrote

Reply to comment by SimShade in Do all humans have the same antigens? Or are the antigens in the body the same for everybody? by menooby

If that's the case then at least do we have highly similar self antigens? Otherwise how would autoantibody tests work, there must be common ones. Or am I missing more of the picture? Are epitopes unqiue as well? I assume so if antigens are

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SimShade t1_j310e3x wrote

Yes, humans have highly similar self-antigens, but there is still some variation between individuals. This is why autoantibody tests are not always completely accurate and may require further testing to confirm a diagnosis.

Epitopes are the specific parts of an antigen that are recognized by the immune system, and they can be either unique or shared between different antigens. In the case of self-antigens, the epitopes are typically highly conserved, meaning that they are similar among individuals. However, there can still be some variation in the epitopes, which can affect the immune system's ability to recognize self-antigens and may contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders.

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menooby OP t1_j310rml wrote

Damn complexity. Thank you for the information, exactly what I'm looking for for but wasn't what I expected.

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menooby OP t1_j34bx46 wrote

Wait 1 more implication then, could that explain the reason for some people being seronegative for autoimmunity?

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SimShade t1_j34e06w wrote

Correct. The reason for some people being seronegative for autoimmunity can be due to the variation in epitopes, or the specific parts of an antigen that are recognized by the immune system. If the immune system does not recognize the specific epitopes on a self-antigen, it may not produce antibodies against it, resulting in a negative test result. Additionally, the presence of autoantibodies does not always indicate the presence of an autoimmune disorder. Some individuals may produce autoantibodies as a result of normal immune system function, and they may not develop any clinical symptoms. Therefore, it is often necessary to confirm a diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder through other means, such as a thorough medical history, physical examination, and additional testing.

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menooby OP t1_j34e7cg wrote

Very interesting. Thank you for the knowledge once again

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