Latest news with #LaJollaInstituteforImmunology
Saba Yemen
5 days ago
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Study: Reveals How Viral Infection Turns Your Joints into Source of Chronic Pain
Washington - (Saba): A recent scientific study has revealed that the mysterious mechanism by which the chikungunya virus causes chronic joint pain closely resembles autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Although most cases resolve spontaneously within one to two weeks, approximately 30-40% of patients may suffer from chronic joint pain that lasts for months or even years, with some potentially developing rheumatoid-like arthritis. Chikungunya virus is the virus that causes chikungunya disease (CHIKV), an acute infection transmitted to humans through the bites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the two species responsible for transmitting dengue fever. The disease is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms, including a high fever and severe joint pain, particularly in the extremities, accompanied by a rash, muscle pain, and headache. The results of a new study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, pave the way for a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between this viral infection and autoimmune diseases. The study, conducted by a team from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, analyzed blood samples from patients exposed to chikungunya in Colombia. The researchers tracked the behavior of immune cells, particularly CD4+ helper T cells, in combating the virus. What surprised the research team was the discovery that these cells—and not CD8+ killer T cells, as expected—led the fight against the virus and persisted in the body for years after the infection cleared. The data show that 87% of patients retained these cells in their blood six years after the initial infection, while killer cells were detected in only 13% of cases. Even more striking is that these helper cells switch to a "monofunctional" pattern, essentially secreting the inflammatory molecule TNF-alpha continuously, even after the virus has been eliminated. This abnormal behavior of immune cells closely resembles what we see in autoimmune diseases, where the immune system attacks healthy body tissue. "We would normally expect to see this pattern of immune response in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, not in viral infections," says Dr. Daniela Weisskopf, lead researcher of the study. This discovery provides a compelling scientific explanation for why many patients suffer from chronic joint pain that can persist for years after contracting the virus. These findings are particularly important in light of the widespread spread of the virus in more than 110 countries, and the similarity of its symptoms to other conditions such as "long COVID" and the long-term effects of dengue fever. They also open the door to developing more precise treatments that target these specific inflammatory pathways, and perhaps the use of TNF-alpha inhibitors, which have proven effective in some autoimmune diseases. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Jordan News
11-03-2025
- Health
- Jordan News
Men Are More Likely to Develop Parkinson's Disease - Jordan News
A new study has revealed that the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (also known as "shaking palsy") is twice as high in men as it is in women, suggesting a potential cause related to a harmless protein in the brain. اضافة اعلان This protein is called PINK1 kinase, and it is typically not harmful; it plays an important role in regulating cellular energy use in the brain. However, the new study shows that, in some cases of Parkinson's disease, the immune system mistakenly treats PINK1 as an enemy and attacks brain cells containing this protein. According to the study, conducted by a team from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California and based on blood samples from Parkinson's patients, damage to this protein caused by T-cells in the immune system is more widespread and aggressive in men's brains compared to women's. Immunologist Alessandro Sette, who participated in the study, said, "The sex-based differences in T-cell responses were truly remarkable." He added, "In male Parkinson's patients, we observed a six-fold increase in T-cells targeting brain cells that carry the PINK1 protein, compared to healthy brains. In female patients, there was only a 0.7-fold increase." Researchers pointed out that these findings could help develop treatments to prevent T-cells from attacking the PINK1 protein, thereby protecting brain cells. It's important to note that Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that gradually manifests with stiffness, tremors, and slow movement. The disease's symptoms are due to the death of important nerve cells in an area near the brainstem, which are indirectly involved in controlling fine motor skills.
Saba Yemen
10-03-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Study: Men More Likely to Develop Parkinson's Disease
Washington - Saba: A recent study revealed that men are twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease compared to women, with a potential cause linked to the "PINK1" protein in the brain. According to the study, the immune system sometimes misidentifies the PINK1 protein and attacks brain cells. The study, conducted by the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California, showed that the damage caused by the PINK1 protein is more aggressive in men's brains than in women's. Blood samples from Parkinson's patients revealed that T-cells in men attack brain cells more than in women. These findings open up new opportunities for developing treatments that could prevent T-cells from targeting the brain, potentially leading to early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and improving future treatment options.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Men Have Higher Risk of Parkinson's, And We May Finally Know Why
The risk of developing Parkinson's disease is twice as high in men as in women, and new research points to a potential reason why: a normally benign protein in the brain. PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) protein is not normally a threat, and is important in regulating cellular energy use in the brain. However, the new research shows that in some Parkinson's cases, the immune system mistakes PINK1 for an enemy, attacking brain cells that express the protein. According to the study, led by a team from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California, the PINK1-related damage done by the immune system's T cells is much more widespread and aggressive in the brains of men than women. "The sex-based differences in T cell responses were very, very striking," says immunologist Alessandro Sette, from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. "This immune response may be a component of why we see a sex difference in Parkinson's disease." Using blood samples from Parkinson's patients, the researchers tested the response of the T cells in the blood against a variety of proteins previously linked to Parkinson's – finding that PINK1 stood out. In the male Parkinson's patients, the research team noticed a six-fold increase in T cells targeting PINK1-tagged brain cells, compared with healthy brains. In the female Parkinson's patients, there was only a 0.7-fold increase. Some of the same researchers had previously found something similar happening with T cells and the alpha-synuclein protein. However, these reactions weren't common to all Parkinson's brains, which prompted the hunt for more antigens – substances that trigger immune responses. As is always the case with research of this type, once experts know more about how a disease gets started and how it progresses, that opens up new opportunities for finding ways to put a halt to the damage. "We could potentially develop therapies to block these T cells, now that we know why the cells are targeting in the brain," says immunologist Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. Further down the line, being able to spot these PINK1-sensitive T cells in blood samples could lead to Parkinson's disease being diagnosed at an earlier stage – which again helps with treatment and patient support. While we're still waiting to discover a cure for Parkinson's disease, constant progress is being made in understanding the risk factors involved in its development, and new approaches to tackling it. "We need to expand to perform more global analysis of the disease progression and sex differences – considering all the different antigens, disease severities, and time since disease onset," says Sette. The research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. An Ancient Disease Has Reappeared in The US. This Could Be Why. Daylight Saving Disrupts Millions of Americans. There's a Better Way. This Common Blood Pressure Drug Extends Lifespan And Slows Aging in Animals
