Why killer cells attack your own body
A research team from Australia deciphered a main factor for autoimmune diseases. Apparently, certain gene variants that also carry the risk for leukemia increase, to that immune system misguided T cells forms, which then attack the body’s own cells. The study results also explain for the first time why people with leukemia have an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
researchers of Garvan Institute of Medical Research found out in a recent study that certain gene variants associated with leukemia renegade immune cells bring forth the autoimmune diseases like rheumatoide Arthritis or aplastic anemia cause. The research results were recently published in the journal “Immunity” released.
Association between leukemia and autoimmune diseases
Leukemia is also commonly referred to as blood cancer referred to because the disease originates in the place where blood is also produced – the bone marrow cells. White blood cellsthe so-called leukocytes, mature in the bone marrow. This maturation process can be interrupted by a faulty switching of certain genes.
Same origin
As has already been established in previous studies, people with leukemia are also very likely to develop autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or aplastic anemia. However, the exact reason for this association has so far been unclear.
For the first time, the current research results provide information about the role defective killer T cells play in leukemia and autoimmune diseases. According to the working group, certain gene variants affect a protein that controls the growth of killer T cells. The T-cells can actually make mistakes in this process renegade make.
“We have shown that these rogue killer T cells trigger autoimmunity”confirms study author Dr. Etienne Masle-Farquhar. According to him, such renegade T cells are the cell types most directly related to the emergence of autoimmune diseases contribute. At the same time, the research results show new attack points for future therapy.
Chicken and egg issue resolved
“We knew that people with various autoimmune diseases acquire these uncontrolled killer T cells over time, but also that inflammation can cause immune cells to multiply and develop mutations.”so Dr. Masle-Farquhar.
So far, however, it has been unclear whether the uncontrolled T cells cause autoimmune diseases or are simply associated with them. Using the latest methods of gene analysis, the researchers discovered that the changes in the T cells are due to a Protein On behalf of STAT3 is due.
This protein is found throughout the body and is critical to various cell functions, including the Control of B and T cells of the immune system.
Huge killer cells circumvent security measures
As the team was able to document, altered STAT3 proteins lead to killer T cells grow uncontrollably. The unnaturally large T cells bypass the immune system’s checkpoints, ultimately causing them to attack the body’s own cells.
One to two percent altered T cells are sufficient
In addition, the researchers found that it is sufficient if one to two percent of all a person’s T cells are altered in this way to produce a induce autoimmune disease.
“Bad guys” of the immune cells narrowed down
“This gives us some really good pointers on how we can better stop these sometimes life-threatening diseases.”highlights study leader Professor Chris Goodnow out.
According to Goodnow, in the future the “villains” be better localized among the immune cells. “We can now look for T cells with STAT3 variations”, comments the professor. This is a big step forward in defining what triggers the disease. (vb)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Author:
Graduate editor (FH) Volker Blasek
Sources:
- Etienne Masle-Farquhar, Katherine J.L. Jackson, Timothy J. Peters, et al.: STAT3 gain-of-function mutations connect leukemia with autoimmune disease by pathological NKG2Dhi CD8+ T cell dysregulation and accumulation; in: Immunity (2022), cell.com
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research: Rogue immune cells linked to leukaemia are a key driver of autoimmune diseases (veröffentlicht: 29.11.2022), garvan.org.au
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.