Resetting your immune system with antigen

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by Halos, Apr 20, 2014.

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  1. Halos

    Halos New Member

    Nanoparticle Resets Immune System

    In Multiple Sclerosis, the immune system
    attacks the myelin membrane that insulates
    nerve cells; © panthermedia.net/blueringmedia

    The new nanotechnology also can be applied to a variety of immune-mediated diseases including Type 1 diabetes, food allergies and airway allergies such as asthma. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin membrane that insulates nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. When the insulation is destroyed, electrical signals can't be effectively conducted, resulting in symptoms that range from mild limb numbness to paralysis or blindness. About 80 percent of MS patients are diagnosed with the relapsing remitting form of the disease.

    The Northwestern nanotechnology does not suppress the entire immune system as do current therapies for MS, which make patients more susceptible to everyday infections and higher rates of cancer. Rather, when the nanoparticles are attached to myelin antigens and injected into the mice, the immune system is reset to normal. The immune system stops recognizing myelin as an alien invader and halts its attack on it. "This is a highly significant breakthrough in translational immunotherapy," said Stephen Miller, Judy Gugenheim Research Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "The beauty of this new technology is it can be used in many immune-related diseases. We simply change the antigen that's delivered. The holy grail is to develop a therapy that is specific to the pathological immune response, in this case the body attacking myelin."

    The nanoparticle was developed by Lonnie Shea, professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. "This is a major breakthrough in nanotechnology, showing you can use it to regulate the immune system," he said.
     
  2. rondrums

    rondrums Bilateral

    This is very cool, and it further validates the idea that Meniere's is not a "disease"; it's an outcome of a dysfunctional immune system. Even my doc, who is a straight ENT, says has been researching immune causality for the past year or so.

    Bless all,
    Ron
     
  3. bulldogs

    bulldogs New Member

    Interesting.

    Maybe, just maybe the solution to mm will be a cure to another disease and not vice versa. How do we know this stuff going on at NW'ern is not the answer for us. It just makes sense to me as a lay person resetting the immune system if hey can do it, is the answer to so much more.

    Kinda what SS is exploring!
     

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