Why does Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition, develop when thyroid follicular cells resemble certain pathogens?

💡 Explanation

Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs due to molecular mimicry where the immune system attacks thyroid cells mistaken for pathogens. This happens because regulatory T cell function is impaired, leading to a breakdown in self-tolerance. Therefore, the immune system attacks the thyroid, rather than remaining suppressed by regulatory cells.

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