Around the world, people suffer more from pain due to the fact that their immune systems cannot discern between healthy cells from invader microorganisms. They are being attacked by the defense mechanisms that used to protect the body from infection.
International research efforts are accelerating to combat this trend. A prime example is the London Francis Crick Institute initiative which James Lee and Carola Vinesa who are world-renowned experts in this field, have established distinct research groups that will help to determine the exact reasons behind autoimmune diseases.
Lee told the Observer that autoimmune illnesses began to rise around 40 years ago, in western countries. New cases are being reported in countries where these diseases were not seen before.
For instance it is the Middle East and East Asia are the regions with the highest number of cases of inflammatory intestinal diseases. They had never seen the disease prior to.
Type 1 diabetes is among the autoimmune diseases. Other ailments include rheumatoid, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel. In each of these cases, the immune system gets its wires crossed, and it turns towards healthy tissue, not infective agents.
In the UK alone, at least 4 million people are suffering from the condition, with some people suffering more than one. According to international estimates, the number of patients suffering from autoimmune disorders is rising by between 3% - 9% each year. Scientists believe that environmental factors play a major role in this rise.
Lee, who was previously based in Cambridge University, stated that genetics hasn't changed much in recent years. So something must be changing out there in a way that is increasing our susceptibility to an autoimmune disorder.
Vinuesa who was a former student at the Australian National University, supported this notion. She spoke about the changes in the diets of people when more countries adopted western-style diets, and people consumed more fast foods.
Vinuesa said that fast food meals lack some important ingredients like fiber. The evidence suggests that this alteration can influence the microbiome of an individual, which is the collection of microorganisms in our gut. These microorganisms play a vital role in regulating many bodily functions.
The microbiome's changes can then trigger autoimmune diseases. More than 100 types of autoimmune disorders have been discovered.
The two scientists also stressed that each person is susceptible to these diseases, which include celiac, Lupus, and other ailments like celiac which cause inflammation and swelling and can cause significant harm to different organs.
Vinuesa clarified that autoimmune diseases aren't something you could get if you do not have a specific genetic susceptibility. There is no way to stop the proliferation of fast-food restaurants all over the world. Instead, we're working to understand how autoimmune diseases can be caused and what genetic pathways cause certain individuals to be more vulnerable to the disease than others. "We want to deal with the problem at this point."
This is made possible due to the development of techniques that allow researchers to pinpoint tiny DNA differences across a large number of people. In this way, it is possible to find common genetic patterns in people suffering from an autoimmune disease.
Lee stated that we did not have the equipment to sequence DNA until recently. But, today we have the amazing ability to sequence DNA on large scales, which has had a profound impact in our lives. Inflammatory bowel diseases were only one of the variants that we could identify at the time I started my research. Today, we have more than 250.
This is at the center of Lee's and Vinuesa’s work. They aim to discover how different genetic pathways function and discover the diverse types of diseases scientists are currently researching. Vinuesa said there could be many versions of some conditions that cause autoimmune disease, such as Lupus. It is important to understand the implications of this when trying to determine the best treatment.
There are Click here numerous innovative therapies that are being developed, but we don’t know which patients to give them. We don't even know what type of disease the patient has. This is a crucial goal in autoimmune research. It is crucial to know how to categorize and group patients so that you can give them the best treatment.
Lee said that rising cases of autoimmune disease around the globe means that new medications and treatments are required now more than Read More ever before. There are currently no cures to autoimmune diseases that typically develop in young people , as they're trying to complete their studies, secure their first job, and start families, he added.
This means that more people are likely to undergo surgery or regular injections throughout their life. It can be devastating for patients as well as a huge pressure on healthcare. Hence the urgent need to develop new, effective treatment options.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system is attacking healthy tissue. But, it's not understood what causes this.
The antibodies your immune system creates to fight bacteria and viruses is essential to fight infections.
If you suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis Your immune system mistakenly releases antibodies into your joint in the lining, which target the tissues around them.
The thin layer of cells (synovium) that covers your joints to become swollen and inflamed. It releases chemicals that damage nearby:
bones
Cartilage is the connective tissue which connects bones and cartilage
The tendons are the tissue that connects muscle and bone
Ligaments The ligaments are the tissues that connects bones and cartilage.
If rheumatoid doesn't get treated, the chemicals slowly cause the joint to lose its shape. Then, eventually, it will destroy the joint completely.
There have been a variety of theories as to how the immune system fights the joints. One theory is that an infection might be the trigger. But none of these theories has been confirmed.
Possible risk factors
There are many things that may increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis including:
The genes you carry - There is evidence that suggests that rheumatoid arthritis may be passed down through families. However, it is unlikely that you'll inherit the condition. Genetics are believed to play a small role in it.
Hormones – Rheumatoid arthritis is more prevalent for women than men. Though this could be due in part to the effect of the estrogenic hormones on the body, it has not been established.
Smoking cigarettes - Smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.