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Potential player in autoimmune disease identified

August 08, 2001

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An immune system component called " complement "

may help cause a rare disease called autoimmune myocarditis, according to

researchers. The finding could lead to new approaches for treating

autoimmune diseases, scientists say.

In their study, mice infected with coxsackie virus--a relatively common

virus that often causes myocarditis--whose complement systems were wiped out

did not develop the disease. Most of the mice whose complement systems were

intact developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, the

researchers report in the August issue of Nature Immunology.

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" Most of us have had coxsackie virus infection or will have it, " said

researcher Dr. Noel R. Rose, of s Hopkins School of Medicine in

Baltimore, land. " Almost all of us recover--except a few who develop

autoimmune myocarditis, " he added.

Autoimmune diseases, which also include type 1 diabetes and multiple

sclerosis, occur when the immune system attacks the body's own substances.

According to Rose, the findings indicate that a revved-up complement system

may be a sign that a patient is more susceptible to autoimmune disease. " It

may be an early warning sign of a subsequent autoimmune disease, " he said.

Still, blocking the complement system may not be the best treatment. " There

are actually treatments that are less horrendous, " he said.

Rose said it is unclear whether complement is involved in other autoimmune

disorders.

" It might be--we don't know that yet, " he said. " But this research opens the

door to that line of investigation. "