Genes in common with IBD and thyroid autommunity

[Guest guest]

An interesting recent paper shows that the IL-23R gene, recently

identified as a major susceptibility gene in inflammatory bowel

disease, psoriasis, and arthritis, has also now been found to be a

susceptibility gene in thyroid autoimmunity:

K. Huber, M. son, Krystian Jazdzewski, Erlinda S.

Concepcion, and Yaron Tomer

IL-23R IS A MAJOR SUSCEPTIBILITY GENE FOR GRAVES' OPHTHALMOPATHY: THE

IL-23/Th17 AXIS EXTENDS TO THYROID AUTOIMMUNITY

J Clin Endocrinol Metab published December 11, 2007 as

doi:10.1210/jc.2007-2190

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2007-2190v1

IL-23R is a receptor for interleukin-23 that is expressed on the

surface of the newly discovered pro-inflammatory Th17 cells. I think

the answer to many autoimmune diseases is going to hinge on these

Th17 cells ... how do they get stimulated? ... how do you turn them

off? I wouldn't be surprised if these Th17 cells (which produce

interleukin 17) are also involved in multiple sclerosis:

Am J Pathol. 2007 Dec 6 [Epub ahead of print]

Interleukin-17 - Extended Features of a Key Player in Multiple

Sclerosis.

Gold R, Lühder F

http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/rapidpdf/ajpath.2008.070862v1

Dave R.