New insights into the development of autoimmune diseases
autoimmune diseases are diseases in which this immune system directed once morest the body itself. This results in a wide variety of symptoms such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or rheumatism. A research team has now new insights into its origin such diseases won.
Researchers have discovered that certain proteins in the innate immune system can interact not only indirectly, but also directly with normally beneficial immune cells, thereby increasing the production of harmful, pro-inflammatory cells. The findings might in future contribute to the development of new therapies for autoimmune diseases.
The immune system attacks its own body
As in a current Message is explained by the University Medical Center Mainz, in certain diseases, the so-called autoimmune diseases, such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the immune system attacks its own body and triggers chronic inflammation.
Affected patients often have increased levels of so-called Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, NETs for short. Experts therefore see a connection with the development of autoimmune diseases.
The NETs typically represent a useful defense mechanism of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are a subtype of white blood cells, also known as leukocytes. They form an important part of the innate immune system; regarding two-thirds of all leukocytes are neutrophils.
Neutrophil extracellular traps represent a network formed from a large number of DNA-bound antimicrobial proteins. The most common protein component of NETs are the so-called histones.
In order to better understand how NETs cause inflammation and contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, scientists from the Institute of Immunology at the University Medical Center Mainz analyzed the functional mechanisms and interactions of NET proteins on immune cells.
Their results were published in the renowned journal “Nature Communications” released.
Drug developed to treat sepsis
“Among other things, we investigated whether and how the interactions of NET proteins on cells can be effectively prevented,” explains the head of the Institute for Immunology at the University Medical Center Mainz, Univ.-Prof. dr Tobias Bopp.
“We have succeeded in doing this with a novel drug that was originally developed to treat sepsis and is able to inhibit histones. It was shown that with the addition of the histone inhibitor, the development of TH17 cells was significantly reduced.”
As the researchers discovered, white blood cells can activate TH17 cells directly through their NETs. According to the experts, the histones directly trigger the production of certain messenger substances in a special type of immune cell, the so-called T-cells. These messenger substances in turn signal the T cells to differentiate into TH17 cells.
As explained in the release, TH17 cells are a special type of T helper cell and have an important role in, among other things, neutrophil activation. In a healthy person, they help to successfully fight certain bacterial or fungal infections.
If there is uncontrolled activation of these cells, it might cause chronic inflammation. This leads to an immune response once morest one’s own healthy cells, defined as an autoimmune reaction.
Not examined the indirect effects
In contrast to previous research, the team from the University Medical Center Mainz did not investigate the indirect effects of NETs on T cells in autoimmune inflammation, but whether and how NETs and their proteins can directly influence normally helpful T cells and thus contribute to autoimmune diseases.
“We discovered a previously unknown mechanism: NETs directly activate T cells via the histones they contain and thus specifically enhance the differentiation of pro-inflammatory TH17 cells,” explains Dr. Alicia Wilson, first author of the publication.
“Histone inhibitors can weaken this effect. This demonstrates a direct link between these proteins and the formation and function of TH17 cells. In the long term, this research success might contribute to the development of new therapies once morest autoimmune diseases,” says the scientist at the Institute for Immunology at the University Medical Center Mainz. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Swell:
- University Medicine Mainz: Proteins can directly trigger immune inflammation, (accessed: February 28th, 2022), University Medicine Mainz
- Wilson A.S., Randall K.L., Pettitt J.A., Ellyard J.I., Blumenthal A., Enders A., Quah B.J., Bopp T., Parish C.R., Brüstle, A.: Neutrophil extracellular traps and their histones promote Th17 cell differentiation directly via TLR2; in: Nature Communications, (veröffentlicht: 26.01.2022), Nature Communications
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
