title: Common mechanisms of autoimmune diseases (the autoimmune tautology).
abstract: The fact that autoimmune diseases share subphenotypes, physiopathological mechanisms and genetic factors has been called autoimmune tautology, and indicates that they have a common origin. The autoimmune phenotypes vary depending on the target cell and the affected organ, gender, ancestry, trigger factors and age at onset. Ten shared characteristics supporting this logical theory are herein reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia. anayajm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Juan-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anaya
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004777:Environment; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012737:Sex Factors