Newly Discovered Pathway Suggests How T-Cells Can Help Drive MS, IBD and Type 1 Diabetes
Research By: Aakanksha Jain, PhD | Chandrashekhar Pasare, DVM, PhD
Post Date: December 17, 2019 | Publish Date: Dec. 17, 2019
In a study published online Dec. 17, 2019, in Nature Immunology, scientists at Cincinnati Children’s report finding a key molecular pathway that may open doors to better treatments for autoimmune diseases.
The study, in mice, shows how auto-reactive T cells, macrophage and dendritic cells in the immune system work through two other molecules—TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and FasL (fas ligand)—to produce overabundant amounts of IL-1b (cytokine interleukin-1 beta).
This excess amount of IL-1b protein appears to feed a T-cell-driven inflammation process found in diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
“This means our findings have two previously unknown implications,” Pasare explained. “We show for the first time that IL-1b can be made in the absence of infection and that T cells are major drivers of IL-1b in an autoimmune setting.”
The findings suggest that targeting the TNF and FasL pathway of IL-1b production is more likely to be an effective way of treating auto-immune diseases in humans. However, it remains too early to determine whether these mouse-based findings will translate safely and effectively to humans.
Read more about the research
| Original title: | T cells instruct myeloid cells to produce inflammasome-independent IL-1β and cause autoimmunity |
| Published in: | Nature Immunology |
| Publish date: | Dec. 17, 2019 |
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The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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