Chronic Inflammation as Homeostatic Lock-In A Systems Framework for Autoimmune Disease

Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases often persist despite effective suppression of immune activity, challenging models that equate symptom control with recovery. This paper proposes a systems-level framework in which such conditions may be understood as states of homeostatic lock-in, where regulatory processes stabilise around maladaptive equilibria rather than returning to baseline. Using psoriasis as an illustrative example, the analysis examines how immune feedback, tissue conditioning, and systemic spillover can sustain inflammation in the absence of ongoing insult. The framework is presented as a falsifiable conceptual lens rather than a causal or therapeutic claim, and does not propose treatments, diagnostics, or clinical interventions.