In a groundbreaking development, researchers from Northwestern Medicine have identified a potential root cause of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus. This discovery could pave the way for new treatment methods that might reverse the disease, offering hope to hundreds of thousands of affected individuals in the United States.
According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature, scientists have pinpointed a molecular defect that triggers the pathological immune response characteristic of lupus. This defect, which was previously unknown, has been linked to an imbalance in the immune system’s response, leading to the production of disease-causing autoantibodies.
“Until now, all lupus therapies have been blunt instruments,” explained Dr. Jaehyuk Choi, a dermatologist and researcher at Northwestern Medicine. “By identifying a cause for this disease, we have found a potential cure that will not have the side effects of current therapies.”
The Role of T Peripheral Helper Cells
The study revealed that lupus patients exhibit an excess of a specific type of T cell, known as T peripheral helper cells. These cells are instrumental in driving the production of autoantibodies, which attack the body’s own tissues and organs, leading to the severe symptoms associated with lupus.
“We’ve identified a fundamental imbalance in the immune responses that patients with lupus make,” said Dr. Deepak Rao, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “We’ve defined specific mediators that can correct this imbalance to dampen the pathologic autoimmune response.”
Reversing Lupus
Researchers believe they have discovered methods to reduce the number of these pathogenic T cells. By either activating the AHR pathway with small molecule activators or limiting the pathologically excessive interferon in the blood, scientists were able to reduce the population of these harmful cells in their studies.
“We found that if we either activate the AHR pathway with small molecule activators or limit the pathologically excessive interferon in the blood, we can reduce the number of these disease-causing cells,” Choi noted.
The collaborative effort between Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital represents a significant advancement in understanding lupus. The research teams are now focused on developing new medications that could safely and effectively deliver these therapeutic molecules to patients.
“We intend to expand our efforts into developing novel medicines for lupus patients,” the researchers stated. “Our goal is to find ways to safely and effectively deliver these molecules to humans.”
This discovery marks a pivotal step forward in lupus research, offering new hope for improved treatments and potentially a cure for a disease that has long eluded the medical community.
