17 June 2010

Autoimmune Diseases Linked Genetically

A new study has found that defects in a gene that encodes an enzyme called sialic acid acetylesterase or SIAE, which regulates the activity of the immune system’s antibody-producing B cells, is linked to autoimmune disorders in 2 percent to 3 percent of autoimmune disorder cases.

What is remarkable is that so many different autoimmune disorders are involved, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, Crohn disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The implication is that it may be possible to develop a generalized autoimmune disease drug. The finding also supports the general idea that autoimmune diseases have similar causes.

1 comment:

brady berno said...

i have behcets disease which is an autoimmune that forms as rh or vasculitus in my eyes... this is some of the best news ive heard in a while, since docs said that there no cures for what i got, now a little ray hope shines