Self-reactive

Describing a substance, particularly within a biological or chemical context, that initiates or participates in a reaction or response directed towards its own constituents or structures. In immunology, it refers to immune cells or antibodies that recognize and react against the body's own tissues or cells, potentially leading to autoimmune diseases. In chemistry, it can describe a compound that spontaneously decomposes or reacts with itself under certain conditions. The term emphasizes an internal instability or susceptibility to self-directed interactions.

Self-reactive meaning with examples

• In patients with lupus, the immune system becomes self-reactive, producing autoantibodies that attack healthy tissues like the skin and joints. These self-reactive antibodies trigger inflammation and cause chronic pain and organ damage. The diagnosis often involves tests to detect these autoantibodies, demonstrating the body's inappropriate immune response.
• Certain polymer blends can exhibit self-reactive behavior, leading to chain scission and degradation over time. The molecules within the blend react with each other due to unstable bonds, reducing the polymer's mechanical strength. Researchers work to add stabilizers that prevent self-reactive tendencies, increasing the polymer's lifespan.
• A self-reactive chemical, if not handled with care, can undergo violent decomposition, releasing heat and hazardous byproducts. Its instability necessitates storage in a controlled environment, far away from heat and other reactive materials. This reactive substance, for instance, is often used in research, but it must be treated very carefully at all times.
• During autoimmune disorders, T cells can become self-reactive, attacking the body's own cells as if they were foreign invaders. The body attacks itself resulting in severe illness. The process is complex but involves the inappropriate activation of immune pathways.
• The body’s immune system, when self-reactive, targets cells throughout the body. For instance, in type 1 diabetes, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are often destroyed by self-reactive immune cells, leading to insulin deficiency. These cells fail to differentiate between self and foreign tissue, thereby creating widespread damage.