Many people around the globe suffer with an immune system that doesn't distinguish between healthy cells, invading bacteria and disease. The immune system is being attacked with the defenses against disease which were previously there to defend them.
This trend is being addressed by major international research initiatives. One instance of this initiative is London's Francis Crick Institute. Two world experts, James Lee (from the Americas) as well as Carola Vinuesa (from Italy) have formed distinct research groups to determine the precise causes.
Lee told the Observer that cases of autoimmune disease increased in the west about 40 years ago. New cases are being reported in countries where these conditions have never been seen before.
For instance it is the Middle East and East Asia are the regions that have the highest number of cases of inflammatory intestinal diseases. The patients had never encountered the disease prior to.
Autoimmune diseases range from type 1 diabetes to sclerosis as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In each case, the immune system gets its wires crossed and turns to healthy tissues instead of infectious agents.
These ailments have been documented 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 3to 9 percent every year around the world. Numerous researchers believe that environmental factors play an important factor in this growth.
Human genetics haven't changed over the last few decades, claimed Lee who was based at Cambridge University. There must be something happening outside that is increasing our chances of developing autoimmune disease.
Vinuesa who was based at Australia National University, endorsed the notion. She spoke about the changes in diets that occurred when more nations adopted west-style diets, and people consumed more fast-food items.
Vinuesa explained that some essential elements in fast food diets are missing which includes fibre. It is known that altering a person’s microbiome (the assortment of microorganisms and microbes we are able to digest) could lead to the loss of specific body functions.
These changes to our microbiomes then cause autoimmune diseases There are more than 100 kinds.
Both scientists stressed the fact that each person is susceptible to such illnesses. It includes celiac as well as Lupus. It causes inflammation, swelling, and could cause harm and even death to many organs, including heart.
Vinuesa says that an individual who doesn't suffer from a genetic susceptibility will not get an autoimmune condition, regardless of how many Big Macs they eat. There's nothing we can stop the spread of fast-food chains around the world. We're instead trying to understand how autoimmune diseases are caused and Read More the genetic factors that can make some people more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than others. That is the level at which we intend to tackle this problem."
Scientists are now able to spot tiny variations in the DNA of a large number of individuals. This is possible due to the development of the development of new methods. This allows us to find common genetic patterns among people with autoimmune diseases.
Lee explained that the capability to sequence large amounts of DNA has transformed the way we do everything. We didn't have these tools until recent. Inflammatory bowel disease was only one of the DNA variants that we could identify when I began my studies. There are now more than 250.
This research is at the core of Lee and Vinuesa's work that seek to figure out how these different genetic pathways operate and unravel the myriad of diseases that doctors are currently looking at. Vinuesa stated that autoimmune disorders like Lupus, for example, can be seen in a variety of forms and may have different genetic causes. If you're trying find the most effective treatment it can become a problem.
We are blessed with a wealth of beneficial therapies being developed constantly, but we don't know the patients they should give the treatments, as we've come to realize that we don't know for certain which version of the disease they are suffering from. This is why research into autoimmune diseases has become a priority. To ensure that we provide the best therapy we must be able to group and categorize patients.
Lee explained that the increasing incidence of autoimmune diseases across the globe mean that new medications and treatments are required now more than ever. It's not possible to treat autoimmune diseases. It happens when young people are trying to complete their college education and get their first job, and also have families.
It means that a growing number of people will need undergo surgery or receive regular injections. It can be very distressing for patients, and also a huge strain on the health services. This is why we need to come up with innovative, efficient treatment options.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune-mediated disease. However, we aren't sure what triggers it.
The immune system typically produces antibodies to fight off bacteria and viruses in order to fight off infection.
Your immune system may mistakenly send antibodies to your joints in the event that you suffer from rheumatoid. The antibodies attack tissues around them.
The delicate layer of cells (synovium) that covers your joints, becomes inflamed and sore.
bones
Cartilage - The connective tissue that connects cartilage and bones
The tendons are the tissue which connects muscle to bone
Ligaments – The tissue connecting Read More bone and cartilage
If rheumatoid doesn't get treated it will cause the joint to lose its shape. In the end, it could destroy the joint completely.
While there are many theories on how the immune system targets the joint, none has been proven.
Possible risk factors
You may be more at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis when you perform the following:
The genes. There are indications that arthritis rheumatoid may be a family trait. Since genes play only a small role in the development of the condition and progression, there's a low risk of the disease being passed to the next generation.
hormones. Rheumatoid arthritis can be more prevalent in women than in men. This may be because of the impacts of the hormone oestrogen although this link has not been proved
Smoking cigarettes - There is evidence that those who smoke are more likely develop rheumatoid arthritis.