Question

Which of the following diseases is not an autoimmune disease?

• A. Rheumatoid arthritis
• B. Lupus erythematosus
• C. Grave's disease
• D. Bovine spongiform encephalitis

Hint:

Remember that autoimmune diseases involve the immune system (antibodies, T-cells) attacking "self." Diseases caused by other agents like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or prions are infectious or degenerative, not autoimmune.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. The question asks to identify the disease from the list that does not have an autoimmune basis.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation of Options:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a well-known autoimmune disorder where the immune system primarily attacks the synovium (the lining of the membranes that surround the joints).
- Lupus erythematosus: This is a systemic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in affected organs.
- Grave's disease: This is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The immune system produces antibodies that mimic the action of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causing the thyroid gland to produce excess hormones.
- Bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE): Also known as "mad cow disease," this is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by misfolded proteins called prions, not by an attack from the immune system.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Bovine spongiform encephalitis is a prion disease, not an autoimmune disease. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.