Blockade of the death receptor is a promising method of treating autoimmune diseases
Scientists at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the USA, working under the guidance of Dr. Richard Siegel, have identified a promising target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The results of experiments on mice indicate that blocking the DR3 protein partially or completely suppresses the inflammatory processes characteristic of autoimmune diseases, without increasing the body's susceptibility to serious infections.
Most modern methods of treating inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, are based on blocking the activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). However, such techniques are ineffective against a number of autoimmune diseases characterized by pronounced participation in the pathological process of T-lymphocytes. Therefore, scientists paid attention to the cell surface receptor DR3 (death receptor 3, death receptor-3).
This protein also belongs to the family of receptors for tumor necrosis factor, participates in the mechanisms of apoptosis (natural cell death) and has a high degree of similarity with TNFR1 protein – the main receptor for tumor necrosis factor expressed by cells of many types of tissues. Unlike TNFR1, DR3 is expressed by T-lymphocytes. Normally, their role is to find and destroy infection, and with some failures in the immune system, they begin to attack the body's own cells, causing autoimmune diseases.
In experiments with mouse models of multiple sclerosis and asthma, the authors found that an additional genetic modification – disruption of the gene encoding the DR3 protein – disrupts the ability of lymphocytes to attack their own body tissues and prevents the development of autoimmune diseases in animals.
It should be noted that, unlike modern methods of treating autoimmune diseases, the removal of the DR3 receptor does not suppress normal immune responses and does not reduce the body's resistance to infections.
The authors believe that drugs that block DR3 will not only help in the treatment of autoimmune diseases with a pronounced T-cell component (asthma, multiple sclerosis), but also facilitate the fight against diseases that respond to anti-TNF therapy, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily
20.06.2008