Breakthrough model holds promise for treating Graves' Disease

Sarah Jackman

Author: Endocrine Society
Published: September 13, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130903101545.htm

Summary:
          Graves' disease is caused by an autoimmune response, meaning the immune system attacks its own tissues. The thyroid gland produces too much not enough hormones because antibodies are attacking it. If untreated, this disease could cause major heath problems such as heart disease. One problem caused by Graves' Disease are eye problems, which are called Graves' orbitopathy. Swelling tissues press up against the back of the eye causing pain and potentially blindness in the eye. Currently, Graves' orbitopathy is treated with steroids, but they are not an ideal treatment. Dr. J. Paul Banga created an experiment to create an animal model of  Graves' orbitopathy in order to find a better treatment. His team of  researchers used mice to perform the experiment. To stimulate Graves' orbitopathy, researchers used plasmids, and electric pulses to ensure the plasmids had inserted themselves self into the cells. After three months, the mice that had received the plasmids exhibited the same problems humans with Graves' Disease expressed.

Connection:
          This connects to our unit that we will be learning about this term about the immune system. It connects to a major theme of the human body, homeostatic imbalances. In Graves' disease, the thyroid is over or under active depending on whether one has hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The over and under productions of hormones causes homeostatic imbalance. This article also connects to an idea from a previous unit. Plasmids were discussed a term or two ago when we discussed recombiant DNA technology and cloning.