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How can tissue injury expose self-antigens to the immune system?

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immune system disorder False-color scanning electron micrograph of a T cell infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the agent that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Tissue injury can expose self-antigens to the immune system through the release of sequestered components. Normally, certain intracellular antigens and those located within specific tissues are segregated from the circulatory system, preventing them from interacting with circulating immune agents like lymphocytes and antibodies.12

When tissue destruction occurs due to trauma or infection, these previously hidden or "sequestered" self-antigens are released into the circulation. Because the immune system has not been exposed to these components during its development, it may fail to recognize them as "self." Consequently, the immune system treats these released antigens as foreign, triggering an immune response that can lead to autoimmunity. A classic example of this process is the appearance of antibodies against heart muscle membranes following sudden damage to the heart.12