All over the world, people are experiencing more pain because their immune systems cannot discern between healthy cells from invader microorganisms. Organs and tissues are being attacked by defenses against disease that they used to have.
Major international research efforts are being made to fight this trend - such as an initiative in London's Francis Crick Institute, where two world-renowned experts, James Lee and Carola Vinuesa, have set up separate research groups to help pinpoint the precise causes of autoimmune disease, as these conditions are known.
Lee explained that autoimmune diseases are on the rise since the past 40 years in the west. But, some of these cases are now occurring in countries where they have never suffered from the disease.
For example, the Middle East and East Asia are the areas with the most cases of inflammatory bowel disease. They had never seen the disease before.
Autoimmune disorders can be a variety of conditions, from type 1 diabetes to multiple sclerosis as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In each of these cases, the immune system gets its wires crossed and focuses to healthy tissues instead of the infectious agents.
The conditions have been identified by as many as 4 million people living in the UK. Some sufferers may be affected by more than one. In the world, it's estimated that cases of autoimmune illnesses are increasing by 3% to 9% a year. Numerous researchers believe that environmental factors play a an important role in this rise.
Lee who was based in Cambridge University, stated that genetics has not changed over recent decades. There must be something taking place outside that is increasing the risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
Vinuesa who was based at Australia National University supported the concept. She pointed to changes in diet that were happening as more nations adopted western-style eating habits and consumers bought more fast food.
Vinuesa stated that fast-food meals contain a few essential ingredients, such as fiber. Research suggests that this can alter the microbiome of a person that is the collection of microorganisms in our digestive tract. These microorganisms play an crucial role in controlling many bodily functions.
The microbiome's changes could trigger autoimmune conditions. Over 100 kinds of autoimmune disorders have been identified.
Both scientists stressed the fact that every person is at risk of developing these illnesses, which include celiac, Lupus, and various other illnesses such as celiac that cause swelling and inflammation and may cause severe damage to various organs.
Vinuesa clarified that autoimmune diseases aren't something you can develop if you don't have a specific genetic susceptibility. We can't stop the spread of fast-food chains around the world. Instead, we're trying discover the genetic factors that cause the autoimmune diseases and why some individuals are more susceptible to it. "We are trying to address the issue on a fundamental level."
This feat is possible due to the advancement of methods that now allow scientists to identify tiny differences in DNA among large numbers of individuals. This way, it is possible to identify the common genetic patterns that are common to those suffering from an autoimmune disorder.
Lee stated that we didn't have the technology to sequence DNA prior to. However, now we have the ability to sequence DNA on huge scales. This is a major improvement in our lives. We had only half dozen variations of DNA that can trigger inflammatory bowel diseases when I began my research. Over 250 of them are recognized.
The research at core of Lee and Vinuesa's efforts, which aim to find out how the various genetic pathways function and to unravel the many different types of diseases doctors are studying. Vinuesa stated that autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, for example, can be seen in various forms and could have different genetic reasons. If you're trying to determine the most effective treatment it can become an issue.
We have lots of potentially useful new therapies that are being developed all the time However, we don't know the patients they should give these treatments to because we've come to realize that we don't know exactly which form of the disease they have. This is why research into autoimmune diseases is now a top priority. To provide the best treatment, we have to understand how to classify patients.
Lee said that rising cases of autoimmune diseases across the globe mean that new treatments and medications are required now more than ever. It's impossible to treat autoimmune diseases. It happens when young people are trying to finish their education or get their first job and have families.
This means that increasing numbers of people will have undergo surgery or receive regular injections. It's a very stressful experience for patients and put stressing the health services. We require new and efficient treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune Check out disease, meaning it's caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. We don't know the triggers for it.
The immune system typically produces antibodies to fight off bacteria and viruses in order to fight off infection.
If you suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system sends the wrong antibodies to the joint's lining which target the tissue around the joint.
The tiny layer of cells (synovium) covering the joints to become sore and inflamed, which releases chemicals that damage nearby:
bones
Cartilage is the connective tissue between bones.
Tendons are connective tissue that connects bone and muscle.
Ligaments - The tissues that connects bone to cartilage
If rheumatoid arthritis is not treated, these chemicals slowly cause the joint to loose its shape and alignment. The chemicals may eventually lead to the destruction of the joint in its entirety.
There have been many theories on why the immune response is a threat to joints. For instance an infection could be the trigger. But none theory is proved.
Possible risk factors
Rheumatoid-related arthritis can result from a number of reasons, such as:
Genetics - Some evidence suggests that rheumatoid arthritis may run in families. But, it's not likely that you will inherit the condition. Genes are thought to play a small role in it.
The condition is more prevalent among women than in men. This may be due to the estrogenic effects, but it isn't proven.
smoking cigarettes - some research suggests that smokers are at a higher risk of Read More developing rheumatoid arthritis.