 |
|
Potential autoimmunity-inducing cells found in healthy adults
December 22, 2008It's not just patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that have self-attacking immune cells-healthy people have them too, according to a new report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. In healthy adults, however, these cells are maintained in an 'off' state, perhaps explaining their innocuous nature. Whether these cells are the true predecessors of the self-attacking cells prevalent in lupus and RA and, if so, what prevents them from causing disease in everyone is not yet known. The new study will appear online on December 22nd.
As antibody-producing B cells develop in the bone marrow, the body tests them to determine whether their antigen receptors are apt to confuse self tissues for intruders. If so, their receptors are either rearranged to make new, non-autoreactive versions-a process called 'receptor editing'-or the cells are killed off while still in the bone marrow. Yet a minority manages to escape, slipping into the body as mature B cells with a propensity for self-attack.
Using mice, researchers have shown that these self-reactive escapees are arrested in a state of anergy that prevents them from mounting an immune attack. But, until now, a similar population of cells had never been found in humans. In the new study, a team of researchers led by J. Andrew Duty at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have pin-pointed a similar population of anergic B cells in the blood of healthy adults, where they accounted for 2.5% of B cells in the circulating blood.
Although these anergic cells did not appear to cause problems in healthy people, the authors demonstrated their potential to produce self-reactive antibodies by providing the cells with a strong stimulus in cell culture. The potential to produce these trouble-making antibodies lead the authors to suspect that these cells may contain the precursors for the self-attacking B cells in patients with autoimmune diseases. Perhaps anergy somehow breaks down in these patients, allowing self-sabotaging cells to run free.
Rockefeller University Press
Although these anergic cells did not appear to cause problems in healthy people, the authors demonstrated their potential to produce self-reactive antibodies by providing the cells with a strong stimulus in cell culture. The potential to produce these trouble-making antibodies lead the authors to suspect that these cells may contain the precursors for the self-attacking B cells in patients with autoimmune diseases. Perhaps anergy somehow breaks down in these patients, allowing self-sabotaging cells to run free.
Rockefeller University Press
Autoimmune Diseases Current Events and Autoimmune Diseases News RSSLargest gene study of childhood IBD identifies 5 new genes
In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.
Researchers find new way to attack inflammation in Graves' eye disease
A small group of patients with severe Graves' eye disease experienced rapid improvement of their symptoms - and improved vision - following treatment with the drug rituximab.
National report shines light on lupus 50-year treatment drought
Today, The Lewin Group, a national health care consulting firm, issued recommendations on ways to overcome the barriers that have obstructed lupus drug development resulting in no new drug approval for this disease in more than 50 years - since the Eisenhower Administration.
Visionary concept earns La Jolla Institute scientist prestigious NIH Pioneer Award
A scientist at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology has received one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s top awards -- the 2009 NIH Director's Pioneer Award.
Master gene that switches on disease-fighting cells identified by scientists
The master gene that causes blood stem cells to turn into disease-fighting 'Natural Killer' (NK) immune cells has been identified by scientists, in a study published in Nature Immunology today.
Endothelin-Related Drugs Benefit Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension
Recent research to block the effects of endothelin, a powerful substance that constricts blood vessels and stimulates cell growth, has led to successful treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and provides hope for treating other chronic diseases.
Promising new target emerges for autoimmune diseases
University of Michigan scientists say they have uncovered a fundamentally new mechanism that holds in check aggressive immune cells that can attack the body's own cells.
Blood pressure medication to treat multiple sclerosis?
Conventional blood pressure medication can treat inflammation in an animal model mimicking multiple sclerosis (MS). This discovery was made by Dr. Michael Platten, head consultant at the department of Neurooncology at Heidelberg University Hospital and head of the Helmholtz Experimental Neuroimmunology Junior Research Group on at the German Cancer Research Center and his team in cooperation with scientists from Stanford University in California.
Taking the Needle's Sting Out of Diabetes
Found in 30% of all human cancer tumors, the Ras protein literally "drives cells crazy," says Prof. Yoel Kloog, the dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University. Prof. Kloog was the first in the world to develop an effective anti-Ras drug against pancreatic cancer, currently in clinical trials.
Sun exposure may trigger certain autoimmune diseases in women
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight may be associated with the development of certain autoimmune diseases, particularly in women.
More Autoimmune Diseases Current Events and Autoimmune Diseases News Articles
 |
Living Well with Autoimmune Disease: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know by Mary J. Shomon (Author) Are you tired? Achy? Depressed? Overweight? You could be suffering from an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease is the third major category of illness in the United States, yet very little is known about the many serious and chronic immune conditions. If you're one of the 50 million Americans suffering from one kind of autoimmune disease-whether it's lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or Crohn's disease-there's a good chance you'll develop another. This book can help. Written by Mary J. Shomon, a well-known patient advocate who was diagnosed with autoimmune disease in 1995, this guide to alternative and natural remedies shows you how to treat the underlying causes of immune system... |
 |
The Autoimmune Epidemic by Donna Jackson Nakazawa (Author), Dr. Douglas Kerr (Foreword) From the foreword by Dr. Douglas Kerr, Director, Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center "The Autoimmune Epidemic by Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an astounding book....It is the kind of book that will rivet you and scare you. It will make you angry. It will amaze you with the courage of some of the people described in the book...The Autoimmune Epidemic is every bit as compelling as Upton Sinclair's The Jungle...It is also every bit as necessary as An Inconvenient Truth.... You will leave this book with no reservations about the veracity of the conclusions: put simply, there is no doubt that autoimmune diseases are on the rise and increasing environmental exposures of toxins and chemicals is fueling this rise. The research is sound. The conclusions unassailable.... Reading The... |
 |
The Autoimmune Connection: Essential Information for Women on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Getting On With Your Life by Rita Baron-Faust (Author), Jill Buyon (Author) As featured in the New York Times and recommended by the National Women's Health Resource Center and the Society for Women's Health Research, The Autoimmune Connection discusses the links between autoimmune diseases and offers up-to-date information on diagnosis, treatments, and risks for women with one or more autoimmune disease, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn's disease. |
 |
Anti-Aging Vibes Rhodiola Rosea Nutrition Supplement, 60 Capsules by Anti-Aging Vibes For centuries, the herb Rhodiola has been used in traditional medicine in Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries, and is a perfect candidate for supplementing the Anti-Aging Vibes Core Program. Rhodiola is a powerful "adaptogenic" herb, meaning that it has a broad range of actions with no known downsides In fact, Mongolian doctors used it to support healthy lung and cell function.* Further research shows that it protects from mental and physical stress, toxins, and cold temperature stress.* Rhodiola Rosea contains active ingredients that are responsible for its wide range of beneficial actions. Anti-Aging Vibes Rhodiola is "standardized" to contain at least 3 percent rosavin, the primary active compound in the herb. Rosavin doesn't account for all of the herb's activity and our... |
 |
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders: The Revolutionary, Drug-Free Treatments for Thyroid Disease, Lupus, MS, IBD, Chronic Fatigue; Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Other Diseases by Stephen B. Edelson (Author), Deborah Mitchell (Author) Autoimmune disorders are not well understood and therefore difficult to treat. The result is that there are millions of Americans who are suffering because they aren't being diagnosed properly, or getting the correct medical treatment they need. Here, Dr. Edelson discusses the most common types of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, Chron's disease, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome, outlining their symptoms, causes, and risk factors. He describes his own revolutionary program for treating the root of all autoimmune disorders-without drugs-providing readers with new hope for getting back on the road to better health. |
 |
Gastric Gold Aloe Vera AMP 90 Count Bottle by Alternative Health Products Gastric Gold is helpful in reversing and correcting many digestive and gastrointestinal tract disorders and diseases. A.M.P. (Aloe Mucilaginous Polysaccharide) the main ingredient in Gastric Gold purifies the blood, cleanses the liver, restores and protects the digestive tract, while it works to stop the damaging causes of these painful conditions: The Aloe Vera plant has been recognized for many years for its remarkable health-enhancing properties. In the past it was known for external applications for the skin only. Concentrated and stabilized Aloe (AMP) the active ingredient in Gastric Gold, is now widely used to help a variety of conditions in the digestive tract. The digestive tract is designed to ensure nutrients from food are absorbed into the blood stream while dispensing with... |
 |
Recovery SA Freedom to Move, Powder 1 Kg by Biomedica Nutraceutical Medicine Company Recovery SA is an oral anti-inflammatory / anti-catabolic used primarily to improve surgical recovery and disease tissue breakdown, inflammation and pain associated with chronic degenerative conditions, such as arthritis and autoimmune diseases. |
 |
Treating Primary Immune Deficiency Each year, several hundred children are born with faulty immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to every germ they encounter. Thousands of adults also have primary immunodeficiency, but don't know it. Unlike the "boy in the bubble" 30 years ago, people diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency today can often be successfully treated or even cured. Unfortunately, many cases are being missed - particularly in patients without primary care physicians. In this program, we'll explain why and provide new insights. Treating Primary Immune Deficiency is part of the award winning public television series Healthy Body, Healthy Mind. This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply. |
|
Immunol Focus Autoimmune Video 5 [VHS] Starring: Johnstone | |
 |
Body Wars (non-profit) Starring: Adam Harrington Directed By: Glenn Krawczyk Also With: Glenn Krawczyk (Writer), Stephen H. Schwartz (Producer), Andrew Waterworth (Producer), Michael Stedman (Producer) |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |