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Gene regulates immune cells' ability to harm the body
17 Jul 2009
American scientists have identified a specific gene which allows immune cells to start the self-destructive processes thought to underlie autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
The researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that mice without the Batf gene lacked a type of inflammatory immune cell and were resistant to a procedure that normally induces an autoimmune condition similar to human MS.
They plan to look for other genes and proteins influenced by Batf that could be targets for new treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Senior author Kenneth Murphy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology and immunology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, said: "Batf allows immune cells to head down a pathway that's been a very hot topic in immunology because of its potential links to autoimmune disease.
"We showed that Batf regulates the only other gene previously revealed to control this pathway, so Batf may have quite a bit to teach us about autoimmunity."
The findings appeared in the Nature journal on July 16.
Read more Research News.
They plan to look for other genes and proteins influenced by Batf that could be targets for new treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Senior author Kenneth Murphy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology and immunology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, said: "Batf allows immune cells to head down a pathway that's been a very hot topic in immunology because of its potential links to autoimmune disease.
"We showed that Batf regulates the only other gene previously revealed to control this pathway, so Batf may have quite a bit to teach us about autoimmunity."
The findings appeared in the Nature journal on July 16.
Read more Research News.
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