[Robdel12]

This is so awesome. This is just a dumb off the cuff thought but I do wonder how hardwired this is into us as a species. I have a crummy autoimmune disease and I can’t tell you how many times when I’m in bad pain my brain is like “cut it off” or something like that.

[londons_explore]

Has anyone done DNA sequencing of a cell being attacked by the immune system in an autoimmune patient?

My hypothesis is the cell might be infected with some latent virus (maybe all the cells of that type are), and the immune response is 'correct'.

[DANmode]

Opportunistic infection from things like EBV

that only remain in sustained number in organs until you’re weakened,

rhymes with what you’re saying.