Autoimmune Diseases

A better early blood test for autism: Genetic signatures point to disrupted neuro-immune pathways

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a blood test for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) that outperforms existing genetic tests, while presenting evidence that abnormal ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 10, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Steroid hormone receptor prefers working alone to shut off immune system genes

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have obtained a detailed molecular picture that shows how glucocorticoid hormones shut off key immune system genes.

Medical research created Dec 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

C. diff scientists reveal potential target to fight infections

Researchers at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have discovered how a common diarrhea-causing bacterium sends the body's natural defenses into overdrive, actually intensifying illness while fighting infection.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Nov 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Traffic cops of the immune system: Molecule called IKBNS in charge of regulatory immune cell maturation

A certain type of immune cell—the regulatory T cell, or Treg for short—is in charge of putting on the brakes on the immune response. In a way, this cell type might be considered the immune system's traffic cops.

Immunology created Nov 29, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Researchers increase understanding of genetic risk factor for type 1 diabetes

As part of their ongoing research on the role of genes in the development of type 1 diabetes, Joslin Diabetes Center scientists, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Würzburg, have demonstrated ...

Diabetes created Nov 28, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers show possible trigger for MS nerve damage

High-resolution real-time images show in mice how nerves may be damaged during the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis. The results suggest that the critical step happens when fibrinogen, a blood-clotting ...

Medical research created Nov 27, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (8) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

New public gut bacteria study expected to reach around world

Ever wondered who is living in your gut, and what they're doing? The trillions of microbial partners in and on our bodies outnumber our own cells by as many as 10 to 1 and do all sorts of important jobs, from helping digest ...

Medical research created Nov 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

How does immune globulin therapy work? Now is the time to find out

Immune globulin replacement began decades ago as a treatment for patients who could not make their own protective antibodies, but has proven to have much broader benefits than originally expected. With new uses regularly ...

Immunology created Nov 21, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers implicate well-known protein in fibrosis

An international multi-disciplinary research team led by Northwestern Medicine scientists has uncovered a new role for the protein toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development of tissue fibrosis, or scarring.

Medical research created Nov 20, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Arthritis study reveals why gender bias is all in the genes

Researchers have pieced together new genetic clues to the arthritis puzzle in a study that brings potential treatments closer to reality and could also provide insights into why more women than men succumb to the disabling ...

Genetics created Nov 16, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Extra pounds linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women

(HealthDay)—Overweight and obese women are at increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

Arthritis & Rheumatism created Nov 12, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Why are asthma rates higher among children now than in the past?

(Medical Xpress)—Doug Brugge, a professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts, assesses the possible reasons.

Inflammatory disorders created Nov 12, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you'd expect

For years, researchers have known that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) can cause pregnancy loss and clotting, but they haven't known the true scope of the problem. Now a new study provides the first estimates of the prevalence ...

Immunology created Nov 11, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Rheumatoid arthritis patients can get gout too, study finds

Refuting a belief long held by many physicians, a Mayo Clinic study found that rheumatoid arthritis patients also can get gout. The research is among several studies Mayo Clinic is presenting at the American College of Rheumatology ...

Arthritis & Rheumatism created Nov 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

A comparative medicine study identifies new approach to combat viral infections

When a virus such as influenza invades our bodies, interferon proteins are among the first immune molecules produced to fight off the attack. Interferon can also play a role in suppressing tumor growth and ...

Medical research created Nov 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | 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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