Articles tagged with Autoimmunity
A study published in Brain Behavior and Immunity found autoantibodies against a synaptic adhesion protein, neurexin 1α, in patients with schizophrenia. In mice, these autoantibodies caused schizophrenia-related changes, including reduced social behavior and cognitive function.
A new study found that canagliflozin, a type 2 diabetes drug, can dampen down T-cell activation, suggesting it could be repurposed to treat certain autoimmune diseases. This discovery provides a potential therapeutic route for patients with autoimmune disorders.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found a potential therapeutic target, IL-21, to reduce endocrine autoimmune side effects from checkpoint immunotherapy. A specific group of immune cells play a central role in this autoimmune attack and blocking IL-21 prevents thyroid autoimmunity.
A new study published in Science Advances has found that certain antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus can mistakenly target the brain and spinal cord, causing damage in multiple sclerosis patients. The research reveals a potential link between EBV infection and MS, with implications for personalized therapies.
A recent study led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identifies two different regulatory T cell populations, one related to autoimmunity and the other to protective immunity. The findings could pave the way for new treatments that target the immune system selectively.
Researchers at Linköping University found that C-reactive protein has a beneficial function in systemic lupus erythematosus, reducing interferon activity and promoting milder disease. The study's findings suggest new treatment strategies to reduce immune complexes and elevated interferon levels.
Researchers identified a type of immune cell called age-associated B cells as key drivers of lupus disease. Targeting these cells in a mouse model reduced disease progression, suggesting a potential new therapy for lupus patients.
Researchers tracked the lifecycle and function of tingible body macrophages, specialized cells that clean up the immune system's waste, in a significant breakthrough. The study sheds light on autoimmune disorders like lupus by understanding the role of these cells in triggering autoimmunity.
Scientists have identified key players in the adaptive immune response as culprits for most autoimmunity in people with Down syndrome. The researchers found that many individuals with Down syndrome are in a perpetual state of inflammation comparable to those without the disorder who are in intensive care.
A new study found that excessive salt intake disrupts the energy metabolism of regulatory T cells, leading to dysfunction. This may have implications for autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. The research suggests that sodium can alter gene expression and trigger malfunctions in mitochondrial energy generation.
A new high-throughput MALDI-TOF MS biochemical screen for small molecule inhibitors of ERAP1 has been developed, demonstrating improved stability, reproducibility, and robustness compared to existing assays. The assay's ability to detect other difficult targets makes it a valuable tool in drug discovery.
Regulatory T cells suppress self-reactive T cells by controlling protein synthesis, maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. A small molecule inhibitor called RocA also shows promise in mitigating inflammatory responses.
Scientists at UC San Diego School of Medicine identified distinct patterns of cytokine and granzyme expression in tissue-resident memory T cells, highlighting their complex biology. These findings pave the way for a new branch of precision therapeutics targeting infection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
A study found that antibodies to common antibiotic gentamicin are associated with an increased risk of progression to type 1 diabetes in children already genetically at risk. The researchers also identified an association between the FUT2 gene and the production of these antibodies, which may be compounding risks for type 1 diabetes.
Researchers develop new method to identify crucial protein fragments driving autoimmunity, enabling better diagnostics and therapies. The study finds cross-reactivity between human and microbial proteins drives autoimmunity in at least two diseases.
Researchers have developed a CAR-T therapy approach that effectively targets and eliminates rogue immune cells responsible for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The treatment shows promise as a potential cure for debilitating conditions.
Gene variants associated with leukaemia produce 'rogue' killer T cells that drive autoimmune diseases, according to a new study. These rogue cells can cause autoimmune disease even at low levels, highlighting the connection between leukaemia and autoimmunity.
A long-term study on infants and young children with increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes found that metabolic changes occur much earlier than previously assumed. Blood sugar levels were found to be higher in children who developed autoimmunity, suggesting a potential indicator for islet cell dysfunction.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have developed a testable hypothesis to explain the initiation of autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes. The study suggests that metabolic communication between immune cells and pancreatic beta-cells plays a crucial role in the disease's progression.
Research finds strong association between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes; individuals with T1D eight times more likely to have an enterovirus infection than others. Vaccines aimed at preventing enterovirus infection may help prevent T1D development.
A study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that blood samples from long COVID patients show signs of autoimmune disease a year after infection. Nearly 80% of patients had autoantibodies in their blood, which persisted in around 30% of cases.
A study of 22 million patients found that those with autoimmune disorders have a substantially higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The excess risk is similar to that of type 2 diabetes and affects the entire cardiovascular disease spectrum.
Osaka University researchers identified medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) expressing neuromuscular molecules in myasthenia gravis-thymoma samples. These findings suggest a new connection between the two diseases and may lead to novel therapeutic methods.
Researchers found that type-3 innate lymphoid cells express the autoimmune regulator gene, which instructs T cells to fight Candida. Without this support, Candida-specific T17 cells cannot be generated, leading to ineffective elimination of fungal infections.
New study reveals how GABA A receptor antibodies inhibit neurotransmitter binding, leading to hyperexcitability and symptoms like twitching and seizures. The findings pave the way for developing effective therapies and further investigations into other diseases.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have made a breakthrough in understanding the development of type 1 diabetes by targeting the role of pancreatic beta cells. Deleting a gene called Alox15 in mice preserved their beta cells, reduced immune T cell infiltration, and prevented diabetes from developing.
A new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School identifies a novel mechanism underlying the selective ability of immune cells to differentiate between self and non-self. The discovery sheds light on how T cells learn to recognize proteins made by thymus cells that mimic various tissues throughout the body.
Bacteria's CRISPR system uses spacers to store viral information, but must balance risk of autoimmunity with immune memory. Longer spacers reduce autoimmune response risk, allowing more spacers to be stored without triggering an immune reaction.
Researchers from Arizona State University investigate autoantibodies in healthy individuals, revealing their pervasiveness and role in human health and disease. The findings aim to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for a range of illnesses.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics have identified two bipotent progenitor populations of thymic epithelial cells that control thymus formation at different stages of life. This discovery has significant implications for understanding immune system development and age-related changes, such as reduc...
Researchers at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center identify IL-6 as a key player in immunotherapy toxicity. A novel strategy combining IL-6 blockade with immune checkpoint blockade shows promise in reducing autoimmune side effects while preserving antitumor efficacy.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a method to identify the immune cells involved in autoimmune diseases and identified four new target molecules for personalized treatment of multiple sclerosis. This approach could lead to more precise treatments with fewer side effects, potentially benefiting other autoimmune diseases.
Researchers analyzed genomic profiles of over one million cells from 1,000 people, identifying a link between specific genes and immune cell types in autoimmune diseases. The discovery could lead to tailored treatments and refine clinical trials.
Treatment with an antibody to repulsive guidance molecule-a (RGMa) prevents disease-associated signaling processes and reduces symptoms of neuromyelitis optica in rats. This discovery suggests that anti-RGMa antibodies may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for NMO-associated neuropathic pain and motor deficits.
Researchers discovered a viral infection can trigger autoimmunity in mice by disrupting the thymus's screening process for self-destructive T cells. Infection with murine roseolovirus led to autoimmune gastritis months later, highlighting a previously unknown way viruses can trigger autoimmunity.
A large-scale review of anti-inflammatory drugs used for autoimmune disorders suggests that current treatments can worsen lipid metabolism, leading to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Researchers propose the development of combination therapies targeting lipid metabolism to reduce immune complications and CVD risk in patients.
A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that crAss-like phages, a component of the gut virome, are less abundant in individuals with autoimmune diseases. This discovery may lead to the development of targeted therapies to manage autoimmune conditions.
The study analyzed data from 8,502 genetically high-risk children and found that half developed type 1 diabetes before age 6, while the other half developed it between ages 6 and 12. The findings suggest a different form of type 1 diabetes emerges in children as they grow older.
A new study reveals that the small protein MOTS-c prevents the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic cells in mice with autoimmune diabetes. MOTS-c treatment supports regulatory T-cells and reduces the activation of killer T-cells, effectively preventing disease onset.
The University of South Florida has been awarded a four-year, $69.9 million NIH grant to continue its Type 1 Diabetes Research study. The study aims to identify environmental factors that influence autoimmune destruction of beta cells in young children with genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.
The Salk Institute's NOMIS Center is expanding its research into health and immunity thanks to a $9.5 million gift from the NOMIS Foundation. The center aims to understand how the immune system interacts with other biological processes to combat diseases such as autoimmunity, cancer, and neurodegeneration.
Autoimmune diseases, common in the US after cancer and heart disease, are a mystery due to compromised tolerance. A $1.95M NIH grant will fund research to understand why the immune system attacks its own body.
The study found significant increases in antinuclear antibody prevalence in the US population, particularly among males and adolescents. The researchers suggest changes in lifestyle or environment may be involved in these increases.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center discovered a new molecular process in mice that triggers T cell-driven inflammation and causes autoimmune diseases. The study found that interactions between myeloid cells and CD4-positive T cells produce excessive IL-1b, leading to auto-inflammatory diseases.
Researchers have discovered a link between prolonged enterovirus infection and the development of autoimmunity against insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells, which precedes type 1 diabetes. Early adenovirus C infection was found to confer protection from autoimmunity.
White blood cells use a protein called Plexin B2 to coordinate cell death and send signals to phagocytes for removal. This process is crucial for understanding inflammatory disorders like autoimmunity.
Consuming more gluten during early childhood is associated with higher risk of celiac disease and autoimmunity among genetically predisposed children. The study found a significant increase in risk for every 1-gram per day increase in gluten consumption.
A study found that high levels of immunoglobulin G were associated with increased pain disability and comorbidities in TMD patients. Additionally, a chair-side risk assessment tool based on orofacial symptoms, headaches, and teeth grinding was developed to facilitate dental treatment planning.
Researchers have discovered that transplanted islets in the anterior chamber of the eye exhibit early signs of inflammation before type 1 diabetes symptoms appear, suggesting a potential biomarker for predicting disease development. Early intervention with immunosuppressive treatments may halt disease progression, and future studies ai...
Researchers at Penn Vet are developing a novel gene-engineered chimeric autoantibody receptor T cell (CAART) immunotherapy to treat pet dogs with naturally occurring autoimmune skin disease. The treatment may also lead to breakthrough therapies for humans with autoimmune diseases.
Researchers at Penn Vet are developing a genetically engineered cell-based therapy approach to treat pemphigus in pet dogs, which may lead to breakthroughs in human autoimmune disease treatment. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this novel gene-engineered chimeric autoantibody receptor T cell (CAART) immunotherapy.
Researchers identified the role of Gimap5 in regulating T cell function and found that GSK3 inhibitors can improve immune system function in mice and restore normal T cell function in human cells. This discovery may lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, or asthma.
A study found that adequate vitamin D levels during infancy and childhood are associated with a reduced risk of islet autoimmunity, a precursor to type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D status varies by latitude, and higher childhood levels are significantly linked to decreased risk of IA.
A study led by Dr. Susana Minguet identified the protein Caveolin-1 as a key regulator of B cell organization and signaling. The team found that Caveolin-1 deficiency leads to autoimmune disease in animal models, highlighting a new strategy for treating autoimmunity.
A new study published in Diabetologia found that high levels of fish-derived fatty acids, particularly DHA and DPA, were associated with a lower risk of early autoimmunity in infants at high genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. Breastfeeding was also linked to higher serum levels of protective fatty acids.
Viral myocarditis is a leading cause of sudden unexpected death from cardiovascular causes, particularly in men under 40 years old. Chronic myocarditis can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation, with up to 30% of cases resulting from underlying viral infections.
Bacterial restriction-modification systems can overreact, leading to autoimmunity issues, according to a new study published in Current Biology. The researchers discovered that more efficient systems are prone to making mistakes, which can contribute to genetic variation and adaptive evolution.
A study found an association between early probiotic use and reduced islet autoimmunity among children at high genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. Probiotics were most prevalent in Finland and Germany during the first year of life, with a 60% decrease in islet autoimmunity risk observed in children with the highest-risk HLA genotype DR3/4.
A new study found that exposure to mercury, even at low levels considered safe, is associated with an increased risk of autoimmunity in women. Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that greater exposure to mercury was linked to a higher rate of autoantibodies, a precursor to autoi...
Researchers have established a crucial relationship between Natural Killer T (NKT) cells and B cells in the body's natural defense mechanisms. The study found that altered lipid compositions on autoimmune B cells lead to over-activation of NKT cells, causing their depletion. Removing a specific lipid-presenting molecule from B cells re...