Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s natural defense system mistakes its own tissues for foreign microbes. Symptoms including weakness, pain and swelling, heavily involved chronic inflammation, with indications often coming and going. There are many more autoimmune diseases than commonly thought, up to 100, and the majority befalls women.
Known by many names – rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, scleroderma and more – experts think a combination of heredity and environment cause faulty immune systems. Here are some of the most recent discoveries about autoimmune disorders.
Viruses, Bacteria and the Autoimmune Link
Researchers discovered in mouse studies that a viral infection could bring on and speed up acquisition of an autoimmune disease, in those who have a genetic predisposition to the disease. The immune system recognizes a virus, and in a process called cross-reactivity, mistakes a similarly structured molecule of the body as the same virus. The news was reported in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Reported in the June 2005 issue of Immunity was the theory that autoimmunity is a result of unfriendly bacterial infections such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. On the other hand, a 2005 Swedish study showed friendly probiotics, such as those in yogurt, increased white blood cells and appeared to reduce over activation of the immune system that sets up autoimmunity.
New T-Cell Research
T-cells are specialized white blood cells – lymphocytes – of the immune system that can attack microbes directly with a poison, or attract enemy-eating macrophages to do the job. A mouse study examining T-cells, at the University of California, San Francisco, found that autoimmunity could begin before physical signs show; for example, in the nervous system that is affected by multiple sclerosis or in the connective tissue affected by lupus.
The study found a flaw in the thymus gland, where the T-cells first form. An autoimmune disorder can trigger even if just one of the thousands of body proteins goes unrecognized as self tissue. The research, published in the November 27, 2006 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine holds promise of a treatment.
Vitamin D Deficiencies
In the August 4, 2008 issue of Nature Clinical Practice of Rheumatology, researchers found that those with autoimmune diseases had greater vitamin D deficiencies than those without the diseases. The white blood cells of the immune system carry receptors for vitamin D, which is anti-inflammatory and enhances the immune system. Vitamin D is actually a powerful hormone activated by the body when sun shines on the skin. It is also in limited food and available as a supplement.
Recreating the Immune System
In a dramatic demonstration, researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine rebuilt the immune system of early-stage multiple sclerosis patients. Stem cell immune cells were collected from their blood, then the immune system was destroyed by chemotherapy. After injecting the stem cells that reset the immune system, the patients’ symptoms such as weakness, tremors and loss of coordination and balance, improved for two years then stabilized. The March 2009 issue of The Lancet Neurology detailed the report.
Genetics and Environment
You cannot choose your genes, but can control the expression of them through the environment – such as smoking or not, choosing healthy food, supplementing with vitamin D, breathing pollution-free air, exercising to enhance the immune system and not storing excess fat.
This is an educational article only. Always see your health care professional for medical advice.
References:
“Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Arthritis Foundation, accessed November 14, 2009.
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., accessed November 14, 2009.
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