Research into autoimmune diseases, specifically MS, but maybe further work will look at PMR and GCA.

[Exflex]

Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden developed a method for identifying the immune cells involved in autoimmune diseases, and have identified four new target molecules of potential significance for future personalized treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

genengnews.com/autoimmune-d...

[cycli]

Very interesting Exflex. Looks promising. Wonder if any body in GB will investigate.

[Exflex in reply to cycli]

Research tends to be international and scientists are generally not secretive. On the contrary, peer review is extremely important to enable calibration, leading to further research. First to market in the pharmaceutical industry will probably charge quite a bit and most likely patent.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Exflex]

"scientists are generally not secretive"

No - until Big Pharma money is involved ... You can see the advantages of collaboration and openness in what has been found and published in the last 2+ years with Covid.

[SheffieldJane]

This has to be a positive for us. Thank you for sharing.I think that a great deal has been learned about the immune system through the pandemic and the rapid development of vaccines too.

[Exflex in reply to SheffieldJane]

If I was to guess I’d say mRNA technology will be one of the ways to ‘correct’ the immune defects.

Edit: I read an article recently presented by Prof Danny Altmann of ICL. In it there appears to be quite strong evidence that the virus Epstein-Barr, the virus you didn’t know you had, lies dormant in the spinal column. The proteins of EBV look like those of the myelin sheath and the immune system attacks both the virus and the myelin proteins leading to MS. Research now is looking for an EBV vaccine to help the youngsters of today. Once you’ve had EBV it’s too late to vaccinate.

[Broseley]

Most interesting, thank you. It would be brilliant if they could find a 'catch-all' treatment for all AI diseases, but I am wondering about the cause. Why do some people get AI diseases, and why do some result in MS, others PMR, RA etc? I know there's a theory going around that it all relates to the gut...

[Exflex in reply to Broseley]

It’s a really good question. How AI diseases attack specific parts is quite baffling. With MS the current thinking at research level indicates a link to the Epstein-Barr Virus, as I said earlier, ie proteins of the virus that lives in the spinal column looks like the EBV.

[Broseley in reply to Exflex]

One wonders if it all boils down to viruses. Covid has had unexpected effects, for example. I know some people think there is a link with PMR and covid (either the vaccine or the disease).

[Exflex in reply to Broseley]

Something I was reading earlier about B.2.121 (yes a newish mutation) has developed a sneaky way of defeating our immune system by invading the immune cells. Sounds a bit like HIV.

Imagine HIV with an airborne transmission path!!

[Broseley in reply to Exflex]

Scary stuff!

[Fran_Benson Partner]

Some comments have been removed from this thread due to their political nature which is against the rules of the forum.