via UCL
Scientists have discovered a critical part of the body’s immune system with potentially major implications for the treatment of some of the most devastating diseases affecting humans.
Professor Graham Lord, from The University of Manchester, led the study, which could translate into treatments for autoimmune diseases including Cancer, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease within a few years.
It is published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation today.
The discovery of the molecular pathway regulated by a tiny molecule – known as microRNA-142 – is a major advance in our understanding of the immune system.
The 10-year-study found that microRNA-142 controls Regulatory T cells, which modulate the immune system and prevent autoimmune disease. It is, they found, the most highly expressed regulator in the immune system.
Autoimmune diseases often target people in the prime of their life creating a significant socio-economic burden on them. Sometimes, the effect can be devastating, causing terrible hardship and suffering. But these findings represent a significant step forward in the understanding of the immune system and we believe many people worldwide may benefit
Professor Graham Lord
And according to Professor Lord, the discovery could be translated into a viable drug treatment within a few years.
He said: “Autoimmune diseases often target people in the prime of their life creating a significant socio-economic burden on them. Sometimes, the effect can be devastating, causing terrible hardship and suffering.
“But these findings represent a significant step forward in the understanding of the immune system and we believe many people worldwide may benefit.”
If the activity of Regulatory T cells is too low, this can cause other immune cells to attack our own body tissues. If these Regulatory T cells are too active, this leads to suppression of immune responses and can allow cancers to evade the immune system.
So being able to control them is a major step forward in our ability to control- and harness – the therapeutic power of the immune system.
Professor Richard Jenner from UCL, who led the computational side of the project, said that: “We were able to trace the molecular fingerprints of this molecule across other genes to determine how it acted as such a critical regulator.”
Professor Lord, now Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester, added: “Scientists over the past decade or so have developed therapies which are able to modulate different pathways of the immune system. We hope that this new discovery will lead to the development of new ways to treat autoimmunity, infectious diseases and cancer and we are incredibly excited about where this may lead.”
The Latest on: Autoimmune diseases
via Google News
The Latest on: Autoimmune diseases
- Antibodies target fibrotic and autoimmune diseaseson January 11, 2021 at 8:04 am
U.S. study has shown that the increased expression of the small secreted glycoprotein follistatin-like 1 is critical in the pathogenesis of multiple fibrotic and systemic autoimmune diseases, the ...
- New approach needed to study autoimmune diseaseson January 10, 2021 at 8:27 pm
A research team has recently determined that the Immune only focus of the current research must be updated to better understand autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
- Ginger Compound Demonstrates Protective Role against Autoimmune Disorders in Miceon January 8, 2021 at 5:00 am
Ginger root compound lowered autoantibody production, NETs, and helped inhibit disease progression in mice with APS and lupus.
- Investigation Explores Relationship Between Psoriasis and Autoimmune Disorderson January 7, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Patients with psoriasis may be more likely to have additional autoimmune disorders, including vitiligo, diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- BioNTech Publishes Data on Novel mRNA Vaccine Approach to Treat Autoimmune Diseases in Scienceon January 7, 2021 at 11:15 am
BioNTech SE announced today the publication of preclinical data on its novel mRNA vaccine approach against autoimmune diseases in the peer-reviewed journal Science. The publication titled“ A ...
- Common gene expression changes at target tissues of four autoimmune diseases foundon January 7, 2021 at 6:15 am
Autoimmune diseases are diseases of "mistaken identity", where the immune system - which is supposed to protect us against infectious diseases and neoplasias - mistakenly attacks and destroys ...
- New approach can help identify novel treatments for autoimmune diseaseson January 6, 2021 at 10:56 pm
A team of researchers led by the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute Diabetes Center's Scientific Director Decio L. Eizirik, MD, PhD, has found that identifying new treatments for autoimmune ...
- A new approach to study autoimmune diseaseson January 6, 2021 at 2:18 pm
A team of researchers led by the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute Diabetes Center's Scientific Director Decio L. Eizirik, MD, Ph.D., has found that identifying new treatments for autoimmune ...
- New research finds ginger counters certain autoimmune diseases in miceon January 6, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Naturopathic medicine, or herbal medicine, is all the rage, especially among young people. But how much of this is supported by science?
- Autoimmune Diseases May Be on the Rise — Here's What Doctors Want You to Knowon January 5, 2021 at 7:13 am
We at POPSUGAR recognize that people of many genders and identities, including but not limited to women, may or may not have female sex organs ...
via Bing News
