Immunosuppressants are used to treat autoimmune diseases by what mechanism?

• A. Suppress immune function to prevent organ rejection
• B. Stimulate immune function to fight infections
• C. Suppress immune function to treat autoimmune disease
• D. Cause apoptosis of all rapidly dividing cells

Answer: (C)

Immunosuppressants work by dampening the immune system’s activity to prevent the autoimmune attack. In autoimmune diseases, autoreactive T and B cells drive inflammation and tissue damage, so lowering their activation and proliferation reduces inflammatory mediators and limits self‑tissue injury. This approach is different from boosting immunity, which would worsen autoimmunity and infection risk. It’s also not about indiscriminately killing all rapidly dividing cells—that broader cytotoxic effect is characteristic of some chemotherapies, not the specific goal of autoimmune therapy.