autoimmune diseases

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autoimmune diseases

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·August 21, 2019·4 min read

X chromosome gene may explain why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases

Kdm6a, a gene on the X chromosome appears to be associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis. The gene is expressed more in the immune cells of females than males. When Kdm6a was deleted in mouse models of MS, the animals had improved symptoms and reduced inflammation. The findings shed light on why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases than males.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 7, 2019·4 min read

Blood clotting proteins in urine discovered as biomarkers of lupus nephritis

Clotting proteins are elevated in the urine of patients with lupus nephritis. The findings provide a new biomarker for the autoimmune disease.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 31, 2019·4 min read

Vaccinations not a risk factor for multiple sclerosis

A study of over 200,000 people found no evidence that vaccinations increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, or the onset of an initial MS episode.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 15, 2019·5 min read

Differences in MS patients’ cerebrospinal fluid may be key to drugs that halt progression

Ceramide exposure impairs the ability for neurons to make energy by directly damaging mitochondria. Additionally, ceramides force neurons to rapidly uptake glucose in order to provide cellular energy.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 11, 2019·4 min read

Are the ‘viral’ agents of MS, ALS and schizophrenia buried in our genome?

Retroviruses may be a missing causal link in diseases like ALS, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 10, 2019·3 min read

Brain on Fire: Puzzling brain disease could now be better diagnosed and treated

A rare autoimmune disorder popularized by the autobiography and movie "Brain on Fire" is triggered by an attack on NMDA receptors. The disease occurs when antibodies attack NMDA receptors in the brain, leading to memory loss, intellectual changes, seizures, and death.

This diagram shows how lupus affects the body

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 2, 2019·3 min read

B cells off the rails early in lupus

A key finding in the origins of lupus has been discovered. In those with systemic lupus erythematosus, B cells are abnormally activated. This results in the production of antibodies which react against the patient's own tissue, causing a range of symptoms including rashes, joint pain, and fatigue.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 29, 2019·4 min read

Newly discovered immune cells at the frontline of HIV infection

A newly discovered subset of dendritic cells have been implicated in sexually transmitted HIV infection. The CD11c+ dendritic cells are found in human genital tissue at the epithelial level. They are the first immune cells to interact with the HIV virus. The cells directly transfer the virus to CD4 T cells, making them key drivers in HIV transmission.

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·June 20, 2019·5 min read

Fibromyalgia linked to variations in microbiome composition

Using a range of clinical techniques, including deep learning, researcher identify changes in the microbiome of people with fibromyalgia which were not associated with diet, medications or aging. Additionally, the severity of symptoms was directly correlated with an increased presence, or more pronounced absence, of certain bacterias.

This shows bacteria and a pregnant woman

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 12, 2019·4 min read

Women caught in a pickle by their own immune systems

Pregnancy Compensation Hypothesis may explain why women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, than men.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 6, 2019·3 min read

12 genes at the root of multiple sclerosis identified

12 genes associated with familial multiple sclerosis have been identified. The findings provide a molecular rationale for the chronic inflammation, demyelination and neurodegeneration associated with MS. Identifying new genetic targets could help with the development of novel treatments to prevent multiple sclerosis in those with a genetic risk.