A healthy immune system does not attack healthy tissue—the immune system acts and reacts, in response to pathogens.  In autoimmune disorders, the immune system attacks cells infected with intracellular pathogens; attacks abnormal proteins generated by the pathogens, which have confused the immune system by molecular mimicry; and/or immune cells are infected with immortal intracellular pathogens, causing confusion, miscues and weakened immune function. When the immune system cannot eradicate the pathogens, immune cells generate TNF-alpha, which is a higher level of inflammation that itself can damage tissue. Multiple chronic infections worsen the miscues, reactions, and damage from the immune system attack.

High TNF-alpha is found in many chronic diseases, including autoimmune arthritis, autism, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.  The presence of high TNF-alpha suggests an underlying chronic infection, because high TNF-alpha is generated in response to infection.