The immune system of many people fails to differentiate between healthy cells and invader micro-organisms. This is leading to more suffering around the world. The defenses against diseases that were once protecting them are instead attacking their organs and tissue.
This issue is being addressed by major international research initiatives. One instance of this initiative is at London's Francis Crick Institute. Two world experts, James Lee (from the USA) as well as Carola Vinuesa (from Italy) have formed distinct research groups to determine the exact causes.
Lee said that autoimmune cases are increasing since the past 40 years in the west. We are witnessing some cases emerge in countries that had never seen such diseases before.
For instance, the Middle East/east Asia has seen the most recent rise in inflammatory-bowel disease cases. They had never before experienced the disease.
Autoimmune diseases can range from type 1 diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis inflammation of the bowel and multiple sclerosis. Each case is different. In each instance, the immune system crosses its wires and turns on healthy tissues instead of infective agents.
These conditions have been reported by as many as 4 million people living in the UK. A few sufferers could suffer from multiple. According to estimates from international sources that the number of sufferers of autoimmune diseases is on the rise by between 3% - nine percent per year. Researchers believe that environmental triggers play a major role in this rise.
Lee, who was previously at Cambridge University, says that our genetics haven't changed much over the past 10 years. There's a possibility that something is happening out there which is increasing our vulnerability to autoimmune diseases.
Vinuesa was the person who supported this idea. Vinuesa was previously at the Australian National University. She noted that there had been shifts in diets as more people ate western-style meals and more fast food.
Vinuesa noted that fast-food dishes are deficient in certain essential ingredients like fiber. The evidence suggests that this alteration can influence the microbiome of an individual, which is the collection of microorganisms in our digestive tract. These microorganisms play an crucial role in controlling many bodily functions.
The changes in our microbiomes then create autoimmune conditions There are more than 100 types.
The scientists both stressed that each person is at risk of developing these illnesses including celiac Lupus, and other ailments like celiac which cause inflammation and swelling and can cause serious harm to different organs.
Vinuesa said that autoimmune disorders aren't something you could be diagnosed with if you don't possess a particular genetic susceptibility. There's nothing we can do about the Check out expansion of fast-food chains across the globe. Instead, we're trying to understand the genetic causes of autoimmune disease and why certain people are at risk. This is how we want to tackle the issue."
With the development of technology, scientists are able to find small differences in people's DNA. This makes it possible to identify common genetic patterns among those suffering from an autoimmune disorder.
Lee claims that, although we had the tools to sequence DNA a large extent until recently but it was not feasible. My research showed that there are about six DNA variations that are involved in the trigger of inflammatory bowel disease. Today, we have more than 250.
This is the heart of the research conducted by Lee and Vinuesa. They aim to discover the functions of different genetic pathways and uncover the various types of diseases scientists are currently researching. Vinuesa said there could be multiple variants of conditions that cause autoimmune disease, such as Lupus. It is crucial to recognize the implications of this when trying to find the correct treatment.
There are numerous treatments being developed but we don’t know which patients to give them. We don't know what type of disease the patient has. That is why autoimmune research has become a major focus. So that we can offer the most effective treatment, we need to be able to classify and categorize patients.
Lee added that there are more autoimmune disorders than ever before, and the development of new therapies and medications are needed urgently. There is currently no treatment for autoimmune disorders, which often occur in young peoplewho are trying to land their first job, graduate from school, and take care of their families.
It means many more people will require surgery or be required to receive regular injections for the remainder of their lives. It can be grim for patients as well as a significant strain on health services. Hence the urgent need to find new, effective treatments.
Rheumatoid is an autoimmune condition. It is a condition where the immune system targets healthy tissues. It's a mystery.
The immune system typically produces antibodies to fight off bacteria and viruses to combat infection.
If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, your immune system mistakenly sends antibodies to the joint's lining which target the tissue around the joint.
The tiny layer of cells (synovium) that covers your joints to become swollen and inflamed, which releases chemicals that harm nearby tissues:
bones
cartilage is the connective tissue between bones
Tendons - connects muscle to bone
Ligaments are the connective tissue that connects bone and cartilage.
These chemicals can lead to rheumatoid joints damage if the condition isn't treated. These chemicals could eventually lead to the degeneration of the joint in its entirety.
There have been many theories on how the immune system targets joints. For instance, an infection might be the trigger. However none of these theories Read More is proven.
Possible risk factors
There are a variety of factors that can increase the risk of developing rheumatoid, such as:
You can inherit it from your genes. Although there are some indications that rheumatoid arthritis could be passed down the generations however, the odds of getting it are slim because genes play only a tiny role in the disease.
Hormones - Rheumatoid Arthritis is more prevalent in women than it is for men. This may result from the effect of Oestrogen. However, this link is not yet established.
smoking - some evidence suggests that people who smoke are at a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.