RESEARCH - Is the immune system in RA overactive or just worn out?

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Today

AT Research Spotlight

2001

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Is Your Immune System Overactive or Just Worn Out?

New research suggests that the long-held belief that rheumatoid arthritis

(RA) is the result of an overactive immune system may address only part of

the problem. The immune systems of people with RA may not simply be too

active - they may also be prematurely aged. If the findings of the study,

conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., are

corroborated by further research, this might one day change the way doctors

treat the disease.

The Mayo Clinic researchers compared the immune systems of 51 RA patients to

the immune systems of 47 people of similar age who did not have the disease.

They found that young people with RA produced fewer T-cells (a type of white

blood cell involved in immunity) than they should, and that the T-cells they

produced resembled those of much older people.

People ages 20 to 30 with RA had T-cells that looked as though they belonged

to 50- or 60-year-olds. The ends of their chromosomes, called telomeres,

which normally get a little worn with each cell division, " were chopped

off, " says Cornelia Weyand, MD, a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist and the study's

lead author.

" We need to understand what this means for the patients, " Dr. Weyand says.

" Is the disease a consequence of profound change in the immune system? "

Doctors may eventually find that immune suppression, the standard approach

to treating RA, is not the answer, says Dr. Weyand. For now, though, she

does not recommend that people with RA stop their immunosuppressive therapy.

" Immunosuppressive therapy is the only treatment we currently have for

patients and it is highly beneficial to them, " says Dr. Weyand. " Studies are

needed to determine the implications of our findings for patient care. "

-PARK MORGAN

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, Vol. 97, No. 16

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_01_02_ar_do\

ublejointed.asp

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

This is five years old, right? I wonder how this question is viewed

now? Troubling to think of my immune system as " worn out " because

there's less that can be done to treat, if that's the case.

Sierra

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> Arthritis Foundation

> Arthritis Today

> AT Research Spotlight

> 2001

>

>

> RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

>

> Is Your Immune System Overactive or Just Worn Out?

>

> New research suggests that the long-held belief that rheumatoid

arthritis

> (RA) is the result of an overactive immune system may address only

part of

> the problem. The immune systems of people with RA may not simply be

too

> active - they may also be prematurely aged. If the findings of the

study,

> conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., are

> corroborated by further research, this might one day change the way

doctors

> treat the disease.

>

> The Mayo Clinic researchers compared the immune systems of 51 RA

patients to

> the immune systems of 47 people of similar age who did not have the

disease.

> They found that young people with RA produced fewer T-cells (a type

of white

> blood cell involved in immunity) than they should, and that the T-

cells they

> produced resembled those of much older people.

>

> People ages 20 to 30 with RA had T-cells that looked as though they

belonged

> to 50- or 60-year-olds. The ends of their chromosomes, called

telomeres,

> which normally get a little worn with each cell division, " were

chopped

> off, " says Cornelia Weyand, MD, a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist and

the study's

> lead author.

>

> " We need to understand what this means for the patients, " Dr.

Weyand says.

> " Is the disease a consequence of profound change in the immune

system? "

>

> Doctors may eventually find that immune suppression, the standard

approach

> to treating RA, is not the answer, says Dr. Weyand. For now,

though, she

> does not recommend that people with RA stop their immunosuppressive

therapy.

> " Immunosuppressive therapy is the only treatment we currently have

for

> patients and it is highly beneficial to them, " says Dr.

Weyand. " Studies are

> needed to determine the implications of our findings for patient

care. "

>

> -PARK MORGAN

>

> Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, Vol.

97, No. 16

>

>

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_0

1_02_ar_doublejointed.asp

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>