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To investigate the cells role in autoimmunity, the scientists homed in on celiac disease, which is triggered by the gluten proteins in bread and other grain-based foods. Putting them back together, well, not so much. Yes, he says, adding that people should probably already be on a low-salt diet for general health concerns. This is called an immune response. Should patients go on a low-salt diet? He followed the lives of America's test pilots and astronauts who piloted Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. 1993 Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. How the suppressive CD8 cells distinguish T cells with self-destructive tendencies is one of the mysteries scientists still need to answer. Davis posits that the KIR-positive CD8 cells target particular T cells that switch on during an assault by a pathogen. Orbai is quick to point out that while there is some data to support them, scientists have not proven that these are causes of autoimmune disease. At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital: Masks are required inside all of our care facilities, COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov, studied patients who developed both scleroderma and cancer. But its not one thing its heterogeneous.. Knowledge awaits. His curiosity in how things were built led him to dismantling the family's window fan, toaster and lawnmower. Please make a tax-deductible gift today. Many scientists believe this is what causes rheumatoid arthritis, a type of autoimmune disease that attacks the joints. The cells were more common in blood from patients than in blood from healthy people, the team reports online today in Science. Its also possible, he adds, that the cells are sitting in tumors and shielding them from immune attacks, in which case reducing the cells' could unleash a persons immune system to fight cancer. Orbai says that this is an area of intense research. If you incrementally increase salt, you get generation after generation of these TH17 cells, says study co-author Vijay Kuchroo, an immunologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In three studies published today inNature, researchers describe the molecular pathways that can lead to autoimmune diseaseand identify one possible culprit that has been right under our noses and on our tables the entire time: salt. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the US and the leading authoritative publication for science and technology in the general media. In contrast, control mice with a full complement of suppressive CD8 T cells didnt show evidence of autoimmune diseases after infections. Discover world-changing science. Although researchers have long suspected humans have similar cells, nobody had confirmed their existence. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. But finding the molecular switches that cause the body to overproduce TH17 cells has been difficult, in part because conventional methods of activating native immune cells in the laboratory often harm the cells or alters the course of their development. One protein kept cropping up as a TH17-signal: serum glucocorticoid kinase 1 (SGK1), which is known to regulate salt levels in other types of cells. Its a major step forward in understanding how the immune response and autoimmunity are regulated, says immunologist Harvey Cantor of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasnt involved in the work. They may have remained obscure because they are rare and are easily missed, accounting for only about 5% of CD8-positive T cells, Davis says. Ana-Maria Orbai, M.D., M.H.S., is a rheumatologist at theJohns Hopkins Arthritis Center. But OShea notes that it is unclear whether TH17 proliferation is a factor in all autoimmune disease. But in cell culture studies, Li and colleagues found, human CD8 T cells carrying KIR proteins killed the gliadin-detecting helper T cells. Scientists think injury may play a role in some types of autoimmune disease such aspsoriatic arthritis, a condition that affects the joints of some people with psoriasis. Thanks for reading Scientific American. We know that genes are important, but they arent everything, Orbai says. Mitch Leslie writes about cell biology and immunology. Park showed last year that these nanowires can be used to manipulate genes in immune cells without affecting the cells functions. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. 2022 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. The thought is that when the immune system gets rid of the cancer, there is a leftover inflammatory response because of that fight, she says. Help News from Science publish trustworthy, high-impact stories about research and the people who shape it. Published By: Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. 2022 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Its clear that genetics play a role in autoimmune disease, but researchers still dont fully understand how. Masks are required inside all of our care facilities. New Ideas about the Way Autoimmune Diseases Start and How to Stop Them, The Terrible Toll of 76 Autoimmune Diseases, September 1, 2021 Maddie Bender, Jen Christiansen and Miriam Quick. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Immunologist Stephen Jameson of the University of Minnesota Medical School says approaches that increase the cells numbers abundance might help soothe difficult-to-treat autoimmune illnesses such as celiac disease. The newer enforcers belong to a category of T cells distinguished by a different surface protein, CD8. Springer Nature was formed in 2015 through the merger of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media. All rights reserved. Millions of people are sickened by immune systems that are supposed to defend them. Knowledge awaits. Orbai explains several theories researchers have about what might cause autoimmune disease, including infection, tissue damage and genetics. Scientific American is the authority on science and technology for a general audience, with coverage that explains how research changes our understanding of the world and shapes our lives. Although these freshly activated T cells help clear the invaders, they can also attack healthy tissues. To find out how much protection the cells provide against autoimmunity, Li and her colleagues analyzed genetically altered mice that have 50% to 75% fewer of the suppressive CD8 cells than normal. In 56 COVID-19 patients, We saw the KIR-positive cells going through the roof, Davis says. The article was first published on March 6, 2013. If youre one of the millions of women affected by this group of diseases, which includes lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, you may be wondering why your immune system is attacking itself. Otherwise, she says, they would have been only guessing in the dark.. Thanks for reading Scientific American. If we've learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that we cannot wait for a crisis to respond. The incidence of autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, has spiked in developed countries in recent decades. We are vaccinating all eligible patients. Park City & Heber City On a basic level, autoimmune disease occurs because the bodys natural defenses theimmune system attack the bodys own healthy tissue. You can even test positive for lupus-specific DNA and still not have the disease., Its possible that autoimmune disease occurs based on the immune systems ability to handle stress. The KIR subclass serves as a SWAT team to kill off these potentially ruinous T cells once an infection is quelled, Davis proposes. But Kuchroo and other researchers say that evidence so far cannot predict the effect of salt on human autoimmunity. Request Permissions. Doctors arent sure why autoimmune disease happens in the first place or why women are affected more than men. Discover world-changing science. John's curiosity with science and technology began at the age of 7 with the country's space program. The magazine has published articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize-winning scientists and built a loyal following of influential and forward thinking readers. After exposure to certain viruses that can trigger autoimmune disease, the rodents developed signs of damage such as kidney inflammation. New class of killer T cells may prevent autoimmune diseases. If we knew this, it could be the key to preventing autoimmune disease before it develops.. One obstacle was that humans dont make the distinctive receptors that mark the subset of CD8 cells in mice. Scientific American is published by Springer Nature, a leading global research, educational and professional publisher, home to an array of respected and trusted brands providing quality content through a range of innovative products and services. Learn more: Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses | Testing | Patient Care | Visitor Guidelines | Coronavirus | Email Alerts. To determine whether these human cells are immune inhibitors, Jing Li, a postdoc in the lab of immunologist Mark Davis at Stanford Universitys School of Medicine, and colleagues measured their abundance in patients with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and celiac disease. Orbai points toscleroderma, a disease that causes thickening of the skin and connective tissues. They have a very clear effectin vitro, says John OShea, scientific director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Intramural Research Program in Bethesda, Maryland. Its also common that after having strep throat, people developpsoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes patches of thick, scaly skin. This repeated stress can expose tissue that shouldnt normally be in contact with blood cells, says Orbai. A newly identified class of the human immune systems T cells may kill other T cells, helping wind down attacks on infections and suppressing autoimmune conditions. This article is reproduced with permission from the magazine Nature. CD8 T cells are best known for killing infected or cancerous cells, but in mice some of them also kill T cells that orchestrate autoimmune reactions. To stay healthy, the human body relies on a careful balance: too little immune function and we succumb to infection, too much activity and the immune system begins to attack healthy tissue, a condition known as autoimmunity. In patients with the condition, so called helper T cells recognize gluten proteins such as gliadin and then spill molecules that promote inflammation. Scientific American The price for a vigilant immune system that can pounce on tumor cells or pathogens is occasional friendly firean autoimmune attack. John grew up in New York state and Massachusetts with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Millions suffer from ailments such as type 1 diabetes and lupus, in which the body attacks itself, One patient recounts her journey through a world of disabling symptoms, ineffective treatments and dismissive doctors, About 80 conditions can be described as autoimmune disorders, although definitions are still changing, New evidence indicates that target cells may play a role in their own destruction, The effects of sex hormones, X chromosomes and different gut microbes may be parts of the answer, By aiming at specific genes or cells, researchers can boost effectiveness and reduce side effects. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. In the second study, an affiliated team of researchers observed immune cell production over 72 hours. Taking apart things was easy. When that tissue gets exposed, its like a small wound. Other experts are intrigued by the findings. The results offer tantalizing leads for drug targets for autoimmune conditions. When we say autoimmunity, were implying that its one thing, OShea says. Dont yet have access? It was an easy experiment you just add salt, says David Hafler, a neurologist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, who led the research. Listen Like a Local But Tregs are generalists that inhibit a variety of immune cells without killing them. When does the stress on your body exceed your immune systems ability to handle it? Thanks for reading Scientific American. Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah, PublishedSeptember 23, 2021 at 2:49 PM MDT. There are new ideas about why this happens and how to stop it. And the sicker COVID-19 patients were, the more of the cells they harbored. All this evidence, Kuchroo says, is building a very interesting hypothesis [that] salt may be one of the environmental triggers of autoimmunity. The researchers detected similar surges of the KIR-producing T cells in people fighting infections, especially the pandemic coronavirus. Find more COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. A version of this story appeared in Science, Vol 375, Issue 6585. cells were more common in blood from patients than in blood from healthy people, New era in digital biology: AI reveals structures of nearly all known proteins, What a big new U.S. law that reshapes science agencies could mean for researchers, U.K. charity gives $36 million boost to gene editing for inherited heart diseases, U.S. Senate calls for hefty research spending in 2023, From dazzled to doubtful: New U.S. climate deal draws range of reactions, Webb spots new contender for earliest galaxy, Pandas may have had thumbs as early as 7 million years ago, Unconscious bias against Black and women physicians could undermine treatment, Some infectious viruses hitchhike on tiny plastics found in water, Dietary Salt Linked to Autoimmune Diseases. Your tax-deductible contribution plays a critical role in sustaining this effort. AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, OARE, CHORUS, CLOCKSS, CrossRef and COUNTER. OnCool Science Radio, Josh Fischman, senior editor at Scientific American joins the show to talk about their September issue, which provides a special report on auto-immune diseases. Some forms of autoimmunity have been linked to overproduction of TH17 cells, a type of helper T cell that produces an inflammatory protein called interleukin-17. Research has shown that in parts of the body subjected to high stress, an autoimmune response happens after damage to tendons, which attach muscle to bone. For the first of theNaturestudies, Regev and her colleagues used Park's technology to piece together a functional model of how TH17 cells are controlled, she says. The archives of Scientific American include articles penned by Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Stephen Jay Gould, Bill Gates, and more. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. The cells numbers also shot up in patients with influenza, the team found. Researchers cannot definitively explain why women develop these diseases more than men do. But Hafler and others note that there are likely many cell types and environmental factors involved in triggering autoimmunity. For example, a runners heel is an area where the muscle is constantly pulling on the bone to create movement. The explosion of KIR-positive CD8 T cells the researchers detected in patients with autoimmune diseases or COVID-19 may reflect an attempt to rein in destructive immune reactionsthe immune overreaction to the novel coronavirus is what kills many COVID-19 patients in the end. The paper provides really solid data that these cells exist in humans, says immunologist Nu Zhang of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. But could salt change the course of autoimmune disease? Researchers have attempted to harness the traditional, CD4-carrying Tregs for therapies, but no treatments have been approved, Cantor notes. However, Orbai notes that this idea has not yet been proven there are many factors that affect autoimmunity, both genetic and environmental. Both Kuchroo and Hafler found that in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, a high-salt diet accelerated the diseases progression. Cantor and other scientists are convinced the team has fingered the long-sought human counterparts to the rodent immune regulators.