In the world, more and more and more people are suffering from the failure of their immune systems to distinguish between healthy cells and invading microscopic organisms. Instead of protecting themselves from disease their organs and tissues are being attacked by these same defenses.
Major international research efforts are underway to combat this trend - including an initiative at London's Francis Crick Institute, where two experts from around the world, James Lee and Carola Vinuesa, have created separate research groups to help determine the exact causes of autoimmune disease and other conditions. recognized as such.
Lee revealed to the Observer how the number of cases of autoimmune disease has increased in the past 40 years, particularly in Western countries. However, these illnesses are now being seen in countries that have never seen them before.
For instance, the largest recent spike in the number of cases of inflammatory bowel disease has occurred located in the Middle East and east Asia. Before that they had hardly seen the disease.
Type 1 diabetes is among the autoimmune diseases. Other diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of the bowel, and multiple sclerosis. In each case the immune system is activated and its wires crossed, and it turns towards healthy tissue, not infective agents.
The conditions have been identified by at least 4 million people in the UK. A few sufferers could be affected by more than one. It is estimated that autoimmune diseases are rising by three to nine percent per year worldwide. The rise in cases of autoimmune diseases is believed to be caused by environmental factors, as per the majority of researchers.
Lee who worked previously in Cambridge University, said that the human genetic makeup hasn't changed in the last few decades. It appears that something is going on in the world outside that is increasing our susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
Vinuesa who was situated at the Australian National University supported the concept. She discussed the shifts in diets that occurred when more nations adopted west-style diets, and people consumed more fast food.
Vinuesa said that fast food meals are deficient in certain essential ingredients such as fiber. The evidence suggests that this change could affect a person's microbiome, which is the collection of microorganisms that reside in our digestive. These microorganisms play a important role in controlling a variety of bodily functions.
Changes in microbiomes could then trigger autoimmune disorders. Over 100 kinds of autoimmune diseases have been identified.
Both researchers emphasized that individual susceptibilities were involved in contracting these illnesses. These ailments also include celiac disease as with lupus, which causes swelling and inflammation that can cause harm to different organs, such as the heart.
Vinuesa said "If you don’t have a genetic susceptibility to autoimmune illnesses there is no guarantee that you'll get one, no Click here matter the amount of Big Macs you consume." "There isn't much that we can do to slow the global spread of fast-food franchises. Instead, our focus is in understanding the genetic mechanisms which cause autoimmune disorders and how some people are more susceptible to the disease while others are not. We are determined to address this issue at the most fundamental degree.
The development of modern technologies allows us to detect tiny variations in DNA across large populations of people. This is the way it's possible identify common genetic patterns for people who suffer from auto immune disease.
Lee explained that the ability to sequence large quantities of DNA has revolutionized the entire process. We didn't have these tools until recent. Inflammatory bowel disease was only one of the DNA variants that we could identify at the time I started my research. We now have more than 250.
Lee and Vinuesa are working on such work because they want to know how the genetic pathways work and the underlying causes of the diverse diseases that doctors are currently studying. Vinuesa says that it is now evident that there are many types of autoimmune conditions, like Lupus. They could all be caused by various genetic pathways. If you're trying to determine the most effective treatment for your condition, this could be a problem.
There are a variety of innovative therapies that are being developed, but we don't know what patients to give them. We don’t even know which version of the disease the patient has. And that is now the main goal of autoimmune research. To determine the most effective treatment, it is necessary to understand how to classify and categorize patients.
Lee also stressed that surging cases of autoimmune illnesses across the world meant new treatment and medications were required more than ever before. According to Lee, at present there is no treatment for autoimmune disorders. They usually occur in young adults who are trying to finish their education and find an employment.
It means that a growing number of people will need undergo surgery or receive regular injections. This can be a very stressful time for patients, and it can also put enormous strain on the healthcare system. Hence the urgent need to discover new, efficient treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. It is caused by the immune system targets healthy tissue in the body. It's unclear the reason behind this.
The immune system creates antibodies that fight off viruses and bacteria, which helps you fight infection.
Your immune system could accidentally send antibodies to joints when you have Rheumatoid. The antibodies attack surrounding tissue.
The thin layer (synovium), which covers your joints, could be inflamed and inflamed which releases chemicals and cause injury.
bones
Cartilage – The connective tissue stretchy that connects bones
Tendons - connect bone to muscles
Ligaments form the connective tissue between bone and cartilage.
If the issue is not treated, it could lead to the loss of joint alignment and shape. It could eventually lead to complete destruction of the joint.
There have been a variety of theories on why the immune response attacks the joints. For instance an infection could be the trigger. However none theory is proved.
Possible risk factors
You may be at greater Click here risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis if you do not take the steps listed below:
The genes. There are some indications that rheumatoid-related arthritis may be a family trait. Since genes play a tiny part in the condition's development, there is little likelihood of it being passed to the next generation.
hormones - rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men. This could be due to impacts of the hormone oestrogen although this link has not been proved
smoking. Some evidence suggests that those who smoke have a higher chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis