To cause or develop an immune response against one's own body tissues, either naturally or in a laboratory setting.
From Greek 'auto' (self) and Latin 'immunis' (exempt), with the suffix '-ize' meaning to cause or make. This is a relatively modern medical term from the 20th century.
Scientists autoimmunize research animals by injecting them with modified versions of their own tissue—it creates disease models that help us understand conditions we can then treat in humans.
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