Imagine a system designed to protect you, but sometimes it goes rogue. That's what happens in autoimmune diseases. These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Lupus, often called the disease of 1, 000 faces, is one such condition. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, from rashes and swelling to severe pain and organ dama...
People with a brain disease called multiple sclerosis (MS) often take a medicine named dimethyl fumarate (DMF). This drug helps to ease the symptoms of MS. But how exactly does it work? Scientists wanted to find out. They did some tests on mice to see what happens. First, they gave the mice a substance that causes a condition similar to MS. Then, they treated some o...
Scientists have been using a powerful new tool to fight cancer. Now, they are testing it on a different kind of battle: rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This therapy, called CAR-T cell treatment, gives immune cells superpowers to fight diseases. In RA, the body's defense system turns against itself, causing painful joint inflammation. Researchers are exploring if CAR-T cel...
Girls have two X chromosomes, and this can make them more likely to get autoimmune diseases. These are conditions where the body's immune system attacks itself. Scientists are finding out that the X chromosome plays a big role in this. First, let's talk about something called X Chromosome Inactivation (XCI). Girls use this process to turn off one of their X ...
Imagine this: A group of kids followed for a dozen years. What do they have? Kawasaki, and immune system issues. You cannot find much information on this link. So, scientists dug into the data on these kids, but that is not all. The focus is on figuring out the risk of immune problems in those who had Kawasaki. Kawasaki is a rare illness, often affecting young kids. ...
Ever thought about your own body attacking you? It might sound like a horror story, but it's a real medical condition called autoimmune encephalitis. One such type is anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, where the immune system goes rogue and produces antibodies that disrupt the brain's normal function. This wasn't noticed until 2007, and it's more common among young wom...