autoantibody
|au-to-an-ti-bod-y|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔː.toʊˈæn.təˌbɑː.di/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔː.təʊˈæn.tɪ.bɒd.i/
antibody against oneself
Etymology
'autoantibody' originates from modern English, formed by combining the prefix 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos', meaning 'self') and 'antibody' (formed from 'anti-' meaning 'against' + English 'body').
'autoantibody' was coined in 20th-century medical and immunology literature by attaching the combining form 'auto-' to the established term 'antibody', reflecting developments in immunology identifying antibodies that react with the host's own tissues.
Initially, 'antibody' simply referred to proteins produced by the immune system to neutralize foreign substances; with the coining of 'autoantibody', the term came to denote antibodies that react against the individual's own components, emphasizing self-reactivity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an antibody produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual's own proteins or tissues; a self-reactive antibody associated with autoimmune responses.
The patient tested positive for several autoantibodies commonly linked to autoimmune disease.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/23 17:02