Researchers think they’ve figured out what causes lupus Insufficient activation of a specific immune system pathway appears to cause the body to attack itself Drugs to fully activate that pathway appeared to shut down lupus in blood sample tests THURSDAY, July 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Lupus is caused by a specific defect in the immune system that can be reversed, potentially curing the autoimmune disorder, a new study claims. The disease appears to be caused by malfunctions in an immune system pathway that regulates cells’ response to environmental pollutants, bacteria and toxins. Insufficient activation of this pathway, controlled by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), results in an overproduction of immune cells that attack the body itself rather than foreign invaders, researchers said.
By fully activating this immune system response, “we can reduce the number of these disease-causing cells,” said researcher , an associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “If these effects are durable, this may be a potential cure,” Choi added in a Northwestern news release. Lupus occurs when the immune system turns on the body, causing systemic inflammation that can result in life-threatening damage to organs like the kidneys, heart and brain.
Existing treatments have focused on suppressing the immune system, which left patients vulnerable to dangerous infections. “Up until this point, all therapy for lupus is a blunt instr.
