Author: Cell Press
Date: Jan. 9, 2014
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140109132303.htm
Summary:
In a recent study, the University of Texas Health and Science Center found that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates T cells that are responsible for autoimmune disorders. First, the team led by Yeonseok Chung speculated that since patients with T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders have a much higher risk of getting atherosclerosis, then the correlation between those diseases could be explained by the activation of T cells from oxLDL. OxLDL stands for oxidized low-density lipoprotein, which is a type of molecule that activates the immune system and is more abundant in patients with vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. To get their results, the team exposed atherosclerotic mice to an autoimmune disease causing molecule, and then treated the mice with an agent that prevents the activity of Th17 cells (cells that increase in numbers from oxLDL). After that, symptoms of the autoimmune diseases improved. The study shows that the circulatory system has an impact on immune diseases and that in treatment controlling oxLDL levels could improve the efficiency of treatment.
Connection:
This article connects to what we have been learning by including things like the circulatory system and its diseases, as well as autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In class, we have learned that the circulatory system's main function is to bring nutrients, oxygen, and blood to and from the cells. Also, atherosclerosis, a circulatory system disease, is caused by the build up of plaque from fat, cholesterol, and other substances in your arteries and over time hardens and narrows those arteries, limiting the flow of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. This disease can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or death and is connected to autoimmune diseases as mentioned in the article above. Lastly, when studying skeletal system diseases, we learned about rheumatoid arthritis which is a type of autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation of joints and other tissues and is also a type of T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that increases the risk of getting atherosclerosis and was one of the autoimmune diseases targeted in the study above.
Summary:
In a recent study, the University of Texas Health and Science Center found that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates T cells that are responsible for autoimmune disorders. First, the team led by Yeonseok Chung speculated that since patients with T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders have a much higher risk of getting atherosclerosis, then the correlation between those diseases could be explained by the activation of T cells from oxLDL. OxLDL stands for oxidized low-density lipoprotein, which is a type of molecule that activates the immune system and is more abundant in patients with vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. To get their results, the team exposed atherosclerotic mice to an autoimmune disease causing molecule, and then treated the mice with an agent that prevents the activity of Th17 cells (cells that increase in numbers from oxLDL). After that, symptoms of the autoimmune diseases improved. The study shows that the circulatory system has an impact on immune diseases and that in treatment controlling oxLDL levels could improve the efficiency of treatment.
Connection:
This article connects to what we have been learning by including things like the circulatory system and its diseases, as well as autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In class, we have learned that the circulatory system's main function is to bring nutrients, oxygen, and blood to and from the cells. Also, atherosclerosis, a circulatory system disease, is caused by the build up of plaque from fat, cholesterol, and other substances in your arteries and over time hardens and narrows those arteries, limiting the flow of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. This disease can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or death and is connected to autoimmune diseases as mentioned in the article above. Lastly, when studying skeletal system diseases, we learned about rheumatoid arthritis which is a type of autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation of joints and other tissues and is also a type of T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that increases the risk of getting atherosclerosis and was one of the autoimmune diseases targeted in the study above.
Have OxLDL inhibitors ever been used on humans to improve symptoms of auto immune diseases and if so, have they worked? Could the study of OxLDL improve all kinds of auto immune disorders, or just certain kinds?
ReplyDeleteI believe that oxLDL inhibitors are currently not being used on humans to improve symptoms of autoimmune diseases, though oxLDL is a substance that is found in patients with atherosclerosis, and it is known to activate the immune system in someone with that disease.
ReplyDelete