AI Summary
The article discusses the molecular mechanism behind autoimmune diseases, focusing on the role of regulatory T cells and the protein PRDM1-S in causing conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS). The dysfunction of these regulatory T cells is linked to genetic and environmental factors, such as high salt intake. The research findings could lead to a new target for developing a universal treatment for autoimmune diseases.
More than two decades ago, a research team discovered a type of T cell in humans that suppresses the immune system; they later found that these so-called regulatory T cells, when defective, are an underlying cause of autoimmune disease, specifically multiple sclerosis (MS). For many years, however, the mechanism behind this dysfunction has remained unclear. Now a team of researchers finds that this loss of immune regulation is triggered by an increase in PRDM1-S, a protein involved in immune function, triggering a dynamic interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors, including high salt uptake. The findings also reveal a new target for a universal treatment for human autoimmune disease.