Autoimmune diseases are the result of an overactive immune response by the body against substances and tissues commonly present in the body. The body actually attacks its own cells due to the immune system mistaking a part of the body for a foreign agent.
Autoimmune disorders are commonly treated with immunosuppression medication that works to decrease the immune response. While many patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are treated with a class of drugs known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, about one-third of them don’t respond to the medication. Therefore scientists are keenly aware of the critical need for the development of more effective treatment options.
During their study, the London researchers found that a protein known as IRF5 functions as a molecular switch that controls whether white blood cells called macrophages will promote or suppress inflammation. Blocking the production of IRF5 in macrophages could be an effective way of treating a broad range of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and multiple sclerosis. In addition, boosting IRF5 levels may prove effective in treating people who have compromised or damaged immune systems.
In a statement, lead researcher Irina Udalova from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the Imperial College of London explained, “Our results show that IRF5 is the master switch in a key set of immune cells, which determines the profile of genes that get turned on in those cells.” She went on to say, “This is really exciting because it means that if we can design molecules that interfere with IRF5 function, it could give us new anti-inflammatory treatments for a wide variety of conditions.”
According to estimates made by The National Institute of Health, autoimmune diseases affect as many as 23.5 million people in America alone. These extremely painful diseases are the tenth leading cause of death in women under 64 and the number of cases continues to increase with each year.
Although it will be some time before more effective treatments for autoimmune diseases are available, you can take action now to help ease the pain and thwart the damage of these debilitating conditions. Start by choosing to eat a healthy diet that can minimize the inflammation of arthritis. There are many naturally healthy food choices including fruits, nuts, vegetables and fish that may help you improve your quality of life. In addition, you can begin to increase your activity level and work toward a healthy regular exercise routine that safely works for you.
For more info- http://www.healthnews.com/disease-illness/scientists-identify-master-switch-for-inflammation-4675.html
