FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·May 11, 2020Researchers pinpoint genes behind sex biases in autoimmune disorders and schizophreniaA new study reveals why women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions like lupus and Sjögren's syndrome, and men are more likely to develop schizophrenia. Researchers implicated the C4 gene in sex-based risk factors for autoimmune and psychiatric disorders. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·August 7, 2019Blood clotting proteins in urine discovered as biomarkers of lupus nephritisClotting proteins are elevated in the urine of patients with lupus nephritis. The findings provide a new biomarker for the autoimmune disease. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·July 2, 2019B cells off the rails early in lupusA 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. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 12, 2019Women caught in a pickle by their own immune systemsPregnancy Compensation Hypothesis may explain why women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, than men. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 29, 2019New compounds could be used to treat autoimmune disordersResearchers have developed small molecules that inhibit one of the main enzymes implicated in autoimmune response. The research could lead to potential new medications for a range of autoimmune diseases. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·May 26, 2019Autoimmune disease and stress: Is there a link?Researchers consider why those with autoimmune diseases are more likely to have a previous diagnosis of stress-related disorders. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 17, 2019Groundbreaking genetic discovery shows why Lupus developsRare gene variants BLK and BANK1 are present in a substantial percentage of people with Lupus. The genetic variants suppress 1RF5 and type-1 1Fn in B cells, causing dysfunction in the immune cells. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·May 14, 2019How stressed-out gut bacteria may trigger autoimmune responseChronic social stress in mice induces the expression of virulent genes in the gut microbiota. The altered microbiota increases the presence of effector T helper cells in the lymph nodes and induces myelin autoreactive cells. Exposure to chronic stress, therefore, may increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases for some individuals with a susceptibility. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 19, 2019Skin discovery may help explain why women get autoimmune diseases far more often than menSkin cells may hold the key to explaining why women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases, such as lupus than men. Researchers found women have more VGLL3 in their skin cells than men. VGLL3 pushes the immune system into overdrive, resulting in the 'self-attacking' autoimmune response, the mouse study revealed. Findings strongly implicate VGLL3 as a pivotal catalyst in sex-based autoimmunity. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 5, 2019Unlocking the female bias in lupusDisruptions in maintaining X chromosome inactivation of T cells may explain why women are more prone to developing SLE than males. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 19, 2019Experimental blood test accurately spots fibromyalgiaA new biomarker for fibromyalgia has been identified in blood samples taken from patients suffering from the condition. Read More
Brain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·January 11, 2019A Patient’s Sex Matters When it Comes to Brain CancerResearchers report our gender can determine longevity and response to treatment for glioblastoma brain cancer. The study reports male survival is determined by genes that control cell division, where as female survival is often determine by genes that regulate the ability of cancer cells to migrate to different brain areas. Read More
