Autoimmune Diseases

Researchers complete largest genetic sequencing study of human disease

Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have led the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

Genetics created May 22, 2013 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Biomarkers discovered for inflammatory bowel disease

Using the Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR), University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have identified a number of biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which could help with earlier diagnosis and ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 21, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Immune protein could stop diabetes in its tracks

Melbourne researchers have identified an immune protein that has the potential to stop or reverse the development of type 1 diabetes in its early stages, before insulin-producing cells have been destroyed.

Immunology created May 20, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Consuming coffee linked to lower risk of detrimental liver disease, study finds

Regular consumption of coffee is associated with a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune liver disease, Mayo Clinic research shows. The findings were being presented at the Digestive Disease ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 19, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study identifies new approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

(Medical Xpress)—Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia created May 17, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists develop potential new treatment for autoimmune diseases

Scientists at Montana State University have developed a therapeutic that has potential as a biological drug or probiotic food product to combat many of the more than 80 autoimmune disorders that affect some 23.5 million people ...

Medical research created May 17, 2013 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (6) | comments 0

Stem-cell-based strategy boosts immune system in mice

Raising hopes for cell-based therapies, UC San Francisco researchers have created the first functioning human thymus tissue from embryonic stem cells in the laboratory. The researchers showed that, in mice, ...

Immunology created May 16, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Blocking protein expression delays onset of multiple sclerosis in mice, study says

(Medical Xpress)—Blocking the expression of just one protein in the brain delays the onset of paralysis in mice with a form of multiple sclerosis, say researchers at the School of Medicine.

Medical research created May 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers finds Irish Lupus patients likely to benefit from new treatment

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have discovered that a new treatment for the inflammatory condition, Systemic Lupus Erythmstosus (SLE) could potentially benefit Irish patients who suffer from ...

Arthritis & Rheumatism created May 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Animal infection may trigger diabetes

Type 1 diabetes may be triggered by an infectious disease carried by animals, say scientists.

Diabetes created May 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Estrogen fuels autoimmune liver damage

A life-threatening condition that often requires transplantation and accounts for half of all acute liver failures, autoimmune hepatitis is often precipitated by certain anesthetics and antibiotics. Researchers say these ...

Medical research created Apr 30, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Thymus teaches immune cells to ignore vital gut bacteria

The tiny thymus teaches the immune system to ignore the teeming, foreign bacteria in the gut that helps you digest and absorb food, researchers say.

Immunology created Apr 29, 2013 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Potential diabetes breakthrough: Researchers discover new hormone spurring beta cell production

Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) have discovered a hormone that holds promise for a dramatically more effective treatment of type 2 diabetes, a metabolic illness afflicting an estimated ...

Medical research created Apr 25, 2013 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (12) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Video reveals cancer cells' Achilles' heel (w/ Video)

(Medical Xpress)—Scientists from the Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR) have discovered why a particular cancer drug is so effective at killing cells. Their findings could ...

Cancer created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Large-scale genetic study defines relationship between primary sclerosing cholangitis and other autoimmune diseases

For the first time, scientists show that a leading cause of liver transplant, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), is a distinct disease from inflammatory bowel disease, opening up new avenues for specific PSC treatments.

Genetics created Apr 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast


Autoimmune diseases arise from an inappropriate immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks its own cells. This may be restricted to certain organs (e.g. in autoimmune thyroiditis) or involve a particular tissue in different places (e.g. Goodpasture's disease which may affect the basement membrane in both the lung and the kidney). The treatment of autoimmune diseases is typically with immunosuppression—medication which decreases the immune response.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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