- In autoimmune disorders, the immune system attacks healthy tissues.
- Scientists are studying checkpoints in the immune system involving B cells for potential new treatments.
- Some studies have also found an association between vitamin D and autoimmune diseases.
The immune system prevents the production of antibodies that attack and damage the body’s healthy tissues.
Autoimmune diseases impair this process.
Now, research teams are examining the potential of a therapy involving B cells to fight these disorders.
Eric Meffre, a professor of medicine specializing in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University in California and one of the researchers for the study, says the research has promising potential in treating autoimmune diseases.
“B cells are a type of white blood cell that helps fight off infections by producing antibodies, which can recognize foreign molecules and antigens, produced by pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses,” Meffre explained to Medical News Today. “Some antigens are self-antigens, which the body’s cells produce. When this occurs, the immune system recognizes them as foreign invaders and the B cells attack healthy tissue to destroy the antigens, leading to autoimmune diseases. These B cells are referred to as self-reactive.”
“The immune system works to prevent this by exposing the B cells to self-antigens as they develop in the bone marrow, called central tolerance,” he added. “Central tolerance depends on a [DNA-sensing] receptor called TLR9.”
Their findings were published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
The researchers said they discovered that depleting TLR9 stops central tolerance from occurring.
In mice, this resulted in decreased self-reactive B cells and antibodies. The researchers also reported that study participants with systemic sclerosis have decreased TLR9 activity and
The scientists also discovered that depleting B cells caused…
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