Gene mutation in the protein cryopyrin has been found to be the cause of autoimmune disorder.
Professor Gabriel Nunez, Professor of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School has reported in the Journal Nature that the protein Cryopyrin is responsible for producing hypersensitive immune response leading to autoimmune disease.
The protein Cryopyrin is activated by the bacteria against which the protein produces an immune response by activating IL-1 beta, which produces signals for the immune system to produce an immune response against the invading bacteria. Cryopyrin is found inside the cells and mutations in the gene of cryopyrin is found to be the cause of auto inflammatory disorders which is produces large amount of immune response in the absence of bacterial infection. Scientists have found that a single point mutation in CIAS1 of cryopyrin protein is responsible for causing auto inflammatory disorders.Source - ANI
