An enzyme, called cGAS, sounds an alarm for the body's innate immune system. Activating this enzyme causes AGS and SLE, while inhibiting it rescues them.
Study Reveals Gender Bias Found In Autoimmune Diseases
Females can mount more powerful immune responses than males. Despite this, the flip side of this enhanced protection against infections is a greater risk for autoimmune disorders.
Females can mount more powerful immune responses than males. Despite this, the flip side of this enhanced protection against infections is a greater risk for autoimmune disorders.
‘Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified an enzyme as a major culprit of Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Activating the cGAS enzyme causes AGS and SLE in mice, while inhibiting the same enzyme rescues them.’
Senior author Dr. Zhijian James Chen said, "These results suggest that inhibition of the enzyme cGAS may be an effective therapy for autoimmune diseases such as AGS and SLE, which are linked to the same inflammatory pathway. cGAS is likely amenable to inhibition by small-molecule drugs and that the recent determination of the high-resolution structures of cGAS should facilitate development of such inhibitors."
The research team also studied mice genetically engineered to lack a DNA-digesting enzyme called DNase-II. The researchers said, "While the resulting inability to degrade lysosomal DNA led to lethal autoimmunity, once again cGAS inhibition rescued the mice."
The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Do Autoimmune Diseases Affect Pregnancy?
The occurrence of rheumatic diseases before or during pregnancy requires our much-needed attention as it has some significant impacts on the off springs.
The occurrence of rheumatic diseases before or during pregnancy requires our much-needed attention as it has some significant impacts on the off springs.
Study Finds Out How Protein That Plays Key Role in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases is Activated
A new study has identified the process through which a complex protein that plays a crucial role in the development of cancer, viral infection and autoimmune diseases is activated.
A new study has identified the process through which a complex protein that plays a crucial role in the development of cancer, viral infection and autoimmune diseases is activated.
Novel Discovery in Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer
Researchers have made an important finding that paves way in understanding of how our immune system learns not to attack our won body.
Researchers have made an important finding that paves way in understanding of how our immune system learns not to attack our won body.
