Two previously unidentified cellular players in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) have been discovered: a regulatory T cell (Prdm1+eTreg) and a helper T cell (Il21+Th1). In the study, researchers also identified the transcriptional signatures of these cells and their differential dependency on the lymphotoxin/LIGHT signaling axis, which may guide future therapeutic interventions…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibody adalimumab drives regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by binding to membrane TNF, researchers from the UK report. “These results show that adalimumab enhances the anti-inflammatory actions of TNF to increase regulatory T cell activity,” Dr. Michael R. Ehrenstein from University College London,…
A recent study on systemic lupus erythematosus examined the effects of metabolic modulators on the disease’s abnormal T cell metabolism. Using a combination therapy of metformin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, researchers were able to normalize CD4+ T cell functions and restore defective IL-2 production in mice…
ZURICH (Reuters)—Novartis AG has struck a $170 million alliance with U.S.-based Surface Oncology as it seeks to boost its portfolio of medicines that help the body’s immune system fight cancer. The accord, which it announced on Monday, gives Novartis access to four pre-clinical programs aiming to help prevent tumors from evading the immune system, including…
Researchers used T cell transcriptome analysis in a small-scale study, identifying gene expression of specific patient subtypes and finding that expression alteration of T cells may correlate with severity of SLE rather than its presentation…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Commensal microbes in the gut can activate retina-specific T cells that go on to cause autoimmune uveitis in a mouse model, researchers report. “These findings allow us to understand the biological basis for the disease,” lead author of the study, Dr. Rachel Caspi from National Eye Institute at the NIH in Bethesda,…
Researchers in the U.K. have discovered that manipulating T cells to exhaustion in a targeted way may lead to new treatments and predictors for various types of autoimmune diseases…
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are characterized by high-titer, highly specific, isotype-switched antibodies against DNA and RNA. Patients have both CD4+ T helper (Th) cell- dependent as well as Th cell-independent autoantibody production. Two mouse models of lupus demonstrate T-cell–independent autoantibody production: the pristane model of lupus, as well as in the MRL/lpr mouse…
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) all exhibit multifaceted manifestations, and many patients exhibit overlapping comorbidities. However, patients with FMS are distinct from others in that they experience widespread pain, fatigue and mood changes, including anxiety and depression. Although its hallmark symptom of pain causes rheumatologists to consider FMS a pain disorder,…
Role of lipids in inflammation, new insights into T cell function focus of recent research