Researchers have discovered how to reduce the kidney and liver symptoms of lupus in mice, as well as improve the anti-inflammatory response
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United States have discovered a promising way to treat lupus and its variants, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The condition, which is autoimmune, occurs when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue, causing inflammation, pain, and tissue damage.
The disease mainly affects the skin, joints, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels. The painting affects more than 5 million people worldwide, and can become disabling.
The study, in the journal Science Immunology, had as its main motivation to find a possible new approach for the treatment of lupus in its various forms. After analyzing mice with SLE, the research team identified that blocking the receptor for the uptake of iron molecules is able to reduce the symptoms of lupus, as well as stimulate greater activity of T cells, which act in the anti-inflammatory regulation of the organism.
The first discoveries
Researcher Kelsey Voss began studies on T-cell metabolism in lupus cases and noticed that iron seemed to be decisive for the problems of these cells. In other analyses, she also found that people with lupus have iron-rich T cells. Despite this, anemia is often diagnosed.
It was then that the researcher joined colleagues to look for references in similar studies. The goal was to better understand why these cells have high levels of iron. After further evaluation, the team concluded that the transferrin receptor (a protein that imports iron into cells) was crucial.
This receptor has proved to be an ally of inflammatory T cells and an inhibitor of anti-inflammatory ones: this explains how the cells of patients with SLE accumulate iron. The result highlighted other complications resulting from changes in T cells, in particular the malfunction of mitochondria (responsible for cellular respiration), as well as changes in other signaling pathways.
A new treatment for lupus
The findings led the researchers into the intervention phase. They applied an antibody to mice with lupus that blocks the transferrin receptor. The goal was to reduce intracellular iron levels and inhibit the inflammatory activity of T cells by increasing the anti-inflammatory and balancing activity of these cells.
The treatment proved successful. The mice showed a reduction in kidney and liver symptoms, as well as a satisfactory increase in the production of the genetic anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. The result leaves room for further studies on this type of antibody and its action in the body.
Lupus
According to the Ministry of Health, lupus can manifest itself in four different ways, which have different causes. The main forms of the disease are:
- Discoid lupus: this type of lupus is limited to the person’s skin and has reddish lesions with specific sizes, shapes, and colors on the skin. It can evolve into the systemic form.
- Systemic lupus: it is the most common and can be mild or severe. In this form of the disease, inflammation occurs throughout the person’s body, affecting various organs or systems.
- Drug Induced Lupus: this form is also common and occurs because the substance of some drugs and/or medications can cause inflammation with symptoms similar to systemic lupus. However, in this case it tends to disappear once the use of the substance ends.
- Neonatal lupus: it is quite rare and affects newborns of women with lupus. Symptoms tend to disappear naturally after a few months.
Because it is an autoimmune disease, it is not known for sure what causes lupus. This is because the immune system attacking and destroying healthy body tissue is an abnormal behavior of the body. However, the Ministry of Health points out that studies in the national and international medical-scientific literature indicate that autoimmune diseases, including lupus, can be a combination of factors, such as:
- hormonal;
- infectious;
- genetics;
- environmental.
Besides not being able to determine exactly the cause, medicine and science have yet to find a cure for lupus. However, palliative care, when done properly, can control and even make the symptoms disappear.
Sources: Saúde Estadão Summit and Ministry of Health.
Source: Terra
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