PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders

2014-01-09
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Mary Beth O'Leary
moleary@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders The hardening of the arteries, also called atherosclerosis, that can lead to heart attack or stroke. has also been linked to autoimmune disorders. It has not been clear why these diseases are related, but a study published January 9th by Cell Press in the journal Immunity reveals that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates white blood cells called T cells, causing clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease to worsen in mice. The findings shed light on the tight link between autoimmunity and atherosclerosis, opening new avenues for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

"The lesson from this study is that immune diseases are not always a matter of immune system alone," says senior study author Yeonseok Chung of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "With our findings, we have just started to understand how factors in the circulatory system impact the immune system."

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the leading cause of death in developed countries. Patients with this vascular disease have elevated levels of a molecule called oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), which is known to activate the immune system. Because patients with T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis have a much higher risk of developing atherosclerosis, Chung and his team speculated that the tight link between these disorders could be explained by oxLDL-mediated activation of T cells.

In the new study, the researchers found that oxLDL increases the number of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. To examine the relationship between atherosclerosis and autoimmunity, the researchers exposed the atherosclerotic mice to a molecule that causes autoimmune disease. When these mice were treated with an agent that inhibits the activity of Th17 cells, clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease improved. Taken together, these findings suggest that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates T cells responsible for autoimmune disorders.

"Our study suggests that we should consider circulatory factors in current therapeutic approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases," Chung says. "For instance, we expect that controlling oxLDL levels in circulation could greatly improve the therapeutic efficacy of immunological or pharmacological treatment of autoimmune diseases."

###

Immunity, Lim et al. "Proatherogenic conditions promote autoimmune T helper 17 cell responses in vivo."

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

JCI early table of contents for Jan. 9, 2014

2014-01-09
JCI early table of contents for Jan. 9, 2014 Engineered anti-toxin antibodies improve efficacy The effectiveness of toxin-neutralizing antibodies is considered to be mediated through the interaction of the variable region of the antibody and the toxin; ...

Engineered anti-toxin antibodies improve efficacy

2014-01-09
Engineered anti-toxin antibodies improve efficacy The effectiveness of toxin-neutralizing antibodies is considered to be mediated through the interaction of the variable region of the antibody and the toxin; however, recent studies suggest that the constant ...

Mice exposed to retinoid deficiency in utero exhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness as adults

2014-01-09
Mice exposed to retinoid deficiency in utero exhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness as adults Individuals with asthma and COPD are subject to debilitating bronchospasm as a result of airways that are hyperresponsive to stimuli. Factors that lead to the ...

Joslin researchers determine hormone linked to improved glucose metabolism activates browning of fat

2014-01-09
Joslin researchers determine hormone linked to improved glucose metabolism activates browning of fat BOSTON – (January 9, 2013) – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that a hormone long associated with weight loss and improved glucose metabolism ...

NIH-funded scientists develop mouse model for atopic dermatitis

2014-01-09
NIH-funded scientists develop mouse model for atopic dermatitis Study identifies potential targets for eczema treatment A study reports the development of a new mouse model for atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disorder ...

Rewiring stem cells

2014-01-09
Rewiring stem cells A fast and comprehensive method for determining the function of genes could greatly improve our understanding of a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease and cancer. The method uses stem cells ...

Why is type 2 diabetes an increasing problem?

2014-01-09
Why is type 2 diabetes an increasing problem? Popular theory to explain increasing frequency of type 2 diabetes refuted by evidence Contrary to a common belief, researchers have shown that genetic regions associated with increased risk of type 2 ...

Quantum mechanics explains efficiency of photosynthesis

2014-01-09
Quantum mechanics explains efficiency of photosynthesis Light-gathering macromolecules in plant cells transfer energy by taking advantage of molecular vibrations whose physical descriptions have no equivalents in classical physics, according to the first unambiguous ...

Europe to suffer from more severe and persistent droughts

2014-01-09
Europe to suffer from more severe and persistent droughts As Europe is battered by storms, new research reminds us of the other side of the coin. By the end of this century, droughts in Europe are expected to be more frequent and intense due to climate change ...

Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care

2014-01-09
Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care Coalition publishes new evidence on the patient impact of drug shortages in US According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Blocking a cellular switch could prevent lung-scarring disease

Planet formation depends on when it happens: UNLV model shows why

Deep sleep supports memory via brain fluid and neural rhythms

Biochar and iron additives show promise for reviving degraded peatlands and locking away carbon

Cancer cells reactivate embryo-like gene editors to fuel growth

AI analysis of world’s largest heart attack datasets opens way to new treatment strategies

Decoding dangers of Arctic sea ice with seismic, radar method

Counting bites with AI might one day help prevent childhood obesity

Utah chemists discover enzyme that could help build next-generation GLP-1 drugs

Surprising bacteria discovery links Hawaiʻi’s groundwater to the ocean

New grants for schools offer CPR training and resources to make campuses safer

30 NFL players urge fans to join Nation of Lifesavers, learn lifesaving CPR

Study finds humans outweigh climate in depleting Arizona's water supply

Old-school material could power quantum computing, cut data center energy use

Vanderbilt scientist tackles key roadblock for AI in drug discovery

Overheating bat boxes place bats in mortal danger during heatwaves

Study shows medical-legal partnerships aid recovery for patients with violent injuries

Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering

Social conflict among strongest predictors of teen mental health concerns

New framework can improve the planning stage of surgical quality improvement projects

Research shows anger, not fear, shifts political beliefs

Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research awarded to pediatric rheumatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital

UNF chemistry professor awarded NSF Grant to advance laser-based measurement technology

Research shows how Dust Bowl-type drought causes unprecedented productivity loss

Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein

Not for hearing but for symbiosis

Disconnected cerebral hemisphere in epilepsy patients shows sleep-like state during wakefulness

Incentivizing risk to inspire investments in clean innovation for aviation

Stinkbug leg organ contains symbiotic fungi to shield eggs from parasitic wasps

Extreme, multi-year droughts drive cumulative collapse in terrestrial productivity

[Press-News.org] Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders