CD8A and autoimmune disease: This may partially explain the effects of glucocorticoids in treating autoimmune disease-induced FM.27 Since the key pathological process of autoimmune disease-induced FM is self-antigen such as alpha or beta-MHC exposure to the immune system, it is convincing that disturbances of the immune system caused by autoimmune diseases lead to the formation of auto-cytotoxic immune cells, CD3+/CD8+ T cell predominantly, as well as macrophages, targeting the myocardium, eventually leading to FM.28