Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital claim they have found a “molecular defect' that leads to lupus. Autoimmune experts weigh in on the potential impact.
Scientists may have pinpointed a primary cause of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston claim they have found a 'molecular defect' that leads to systemic lupus erythematosus . The study findings were published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that at its core involves abnormal B cell activation and antibody production,' study author Deepak Rao, M.D., PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Fox News Digital via email. 'This B cell activation and antibody production requires help from T cells .
This imbalance resulted in too many 'harmful' T-cells — which cause cellular damage — and too few of the 'helpful' type that are necessary for cell repair. The researchers also identified a protein called interferon that promotes the excess accumulation of T cells, Rao said. 'We have known for many years that patients with lupus have too much interferon production, yet how interferon contributes to disease has been unclear,' he said.
People with lupus are not born with symptoms of the disease, but they are triggered at some point in their lives, which leads to their diagnosis,' Goldner said.
Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that is passed from a pregnant woman to her infant. Some 1.5 million Americans are living with lupus, with about 16,000 new cases each year, according to the Lupus Foundation of America, based in Washington, D.C. Lupus can run in families, and it’s also more common among women between 15 and 44 years of age and people who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander, according to the same foundation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Northwestern Medicine discovers possible lupus cureIt's one of the most common autoimmune diseases, and now, a key mystery has been solved that could pave the way to a cure.
Read more »
Physical therapy being offered via telehealth by Northwestern MedicineA new report out this month found virtual physical therapy to be as effective as in-person PT and Northwestern Medicine is one of the Chicago area providers…
Read more »
Naperville neurosurgeon enhancing brain tumor research through prestigious endowment from Northwestern MedicineNeurosurgeon Dr. Osaama Khan has been employing novel technology at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, which is enhancing the center’s capability to diagnose and treat brain…
Read more »
Ken Griffin donates $10 million to Northwestern Medicine esophageal center that will now bear his nameThe center conducts research and oversees treatment of swallowing issues, cancer, reflux and esophageal disorders.
Read more »
Northwestern Medicine performs first awake kidney transplantJohn Nicholas, 28, of Chicago, was part of a medical breakthrough as doctors at Northwester Medicine performed the first awake kidney transplant on him.
Read more »
Chicago man awake the whole time for kidney transplant by Northwestern Medicine surgeonsChicago man awake the whole time for kidney transplant at Northwestern
Read more »