Which of the following statements is true regarding antibodies?

The statement that antibodies can trigger autoimmune diseases is accurate because in certain conditions, the immune system generates antibodies against the body’s own tissues, mistaking them for foreign antigens. This process can lead to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune response targets self-antigens, resulting in inflammation and damage to various tissues.

Other statements create misunderstandings about the nature of antibodies. For example, antibodies are produced in response to both foreign antigens (such as pathogens) and self-antigens under specific conditions, hence the assertion that they are produced solely in response to self-antigens is misleading. Antibodies also have the ability to recognize and bind to a variety of antigens, not just one specific antigen, allowing for a diverse immune response; thus, stating that they can only interact with one specific antigen does not capture this complexity. Lastly, while T cells play a significant role in the immune response, antibodies are produced by B cells, not exclusively formed by T cells, meaning this statement is incorrect as well.