American scientists have discovered the cause of lupus and a possible way to reverse it

A recent scientific breakthrough has given hope to those affected by the epidemic. lupussystemic erythematous erythema, incurable autoimmune disease It affects millions of people worldwide. Researchers from Northwestern Medical University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States have found molecular defect which triggers the abnormal immune response in lupus, and showed that fix this defect could potentially cure the disease. The results of this study were published in the journal Nature.

What is lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attack by mistake to the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation and damage to joints, muscles, and other organs. This condition can cause serious and life-threatening injuries in vital organs such as the kidneys, brain and heart. In Spain, it is estimated that approximately 1% of the population suffers from lupus, with a significantly higher prevalence in women, who account for 90% of cases, mainly between the ages of 15 and 55.

Available Treatments for Lupus are not fully effective and are often accompanied by significant side effects, such as suppression of the immune system, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infections“Until now, all lupus therapy has been a blunt instrument. broad immunosuppression“Says Jaehyuk Choi, an associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a dermatologist at the same institution. “By identifying the cause of this disease, we found possible cure which will not have the side effects of existing treatments.

Great scientific discovery

Research reveals new pathway for lupus. Scientists find changes associated with the disease in several molecules present in the blood of lupus patients, leading to insufficient activation aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) deficiency. This deficiency results in an excess of disease-promoting immune cells called peripheral T helper cells, which help produce autoantibodies.

To demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this discovery, the researchers injected AHR-activating molecules into blood samples from lupus patients. This procedure reprogrammed lupus causing cells in Th22 cells, which may promote wound healing caused by this autoimmune disease. “We found that if we activate the AHR pathway with small molecule activators or limit the pathological excess of interferon in the blood, we can reduce the number of these cells. disease-causing“If these effects are long-lasting, it could be a potential drug,” Choi explains.

What implications might this discovery have for the future?

This progress not only offers New Hope for lupus patients, but it could also change the treatment paradigm for other autoimmune diseases. Researchers are now focusing on conduct clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new therapy in humans. The possibility of reprogramming immune cells and reduce inflammation without the side effects of modern treatments, it could change the lives of millions of people suffering from lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel and don’t miss the latest news and all the news from the site anten3noticias.com