皇家华人

A critical control point within the body鈥檚 immune system could hold the key to new treatments for autoimmune disease such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

A听critical component听of the body鈥檚听immune systems control mechanisms听has been identified听for the first time听by听scientists听working at 皇家华人听and听the听University of Manchester.听

鈥淢any听intricate processes听are taking place constantly听within our听cells听and听tissues听that听together听protect us from infection, remove rogue cells that could become cancerous听and听control over-zealous听immune听responses,鈥澨齟xplains Professor Richard Jenner (UCL Cancer听Institute), who led the project听at 皇家华人.听

If the immune system's regulatory mechanisms听that create an immune response听fail,听it can start to attack its own cells and tissues听鈥撎齛 process called autoimmunity.听

Professor Jenner听collaborated with听the听University of Manchester听as听part of a ten-year study looking at the regulatory networks within the immune system.听

Our findings represent a significant step forward in听our听understanding of听how听immune听responses are regulated听and we听hope听many people worldwide听will听benefit锟硷考"

Recently,听the听team听uncovered a听molecular pathway that听includes听a tiny molecular听鈥榤asterswitch鈥櫶�鈥撎齥nown as microRNA-142. The molecule听is part of the inner workings of the cell and can听switch听particular genes听on and off听to听regulate听which听proteins are made. This in turn听determines听which cells听are 鈥榓ctivated鈥� to create an immune response.听

Autoimmune diseases听such as听diabetes and multiple sclerosis affect people world-wide and听often target people in the prime of their life,听creating a significant socio-economic burden.听

鈥淥ur听findings represent a significant step forward in听our听understanding of听how听immune听responses are regulated听and we听hope听many people worldwide听will听,鈥澨齭ays听Professor听Jenner.听

MicroRNA-142 controls听immune cells called听Regulatory T cells, which modulate the immune system and prevent autoimmune disease. It is, researchers found, the most highly expressed regulator of this type in the immune system.听

By modulating this pathway is may be possible听to听harness the therapeutic power of the immune system to treat diseases including cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Crohn鈥檚 disease听in the future.听