A few days ago, R asked about Lupus and stem cell research.
*Scientist friends: Do feel free to chip in to clarify or correct anything. It’s been 16 years since I last studied biology.*
There is research being conducted with stem cells to treat Lupus. In a few very severe cases, stem cell transplantation has successfully been used to treat otherwise hopeless Lupus cases. In stem cell transplantation, adult stem cells from bone marrow are re-infused in the same adult.
However, the most promising research is being conducted with embryonic stem cells, mainly T cells and B cells. Both T and B cells are lymphocytes, and both play a role in cell-mediated immunity. T cells are so called because they mature in the thymus. B cells mature in bone marrow. T cells have receptors on the outside of the cell membrane that in theory are programmed as part of the adaptive immune system. B cells have B cell receptors (BCRs) on the outside of their cell membrane, which allow them to bind a specific antigen and initiate an antibody response.
2 weeks ago, the NHS approved the first new drug to treat Lupus in over 50 years, Belimumab. (It was approved a year ago in the USA, and five years ago in Europe.) Previously known as LymphoStat-B, Belimumab works by inhibiting B-cell activation. While this may not seem much different from other immunosuppressant drugs, like chemo, it represents a huge gain in both understanding Lupus and patient experience. Rather than suppressing the immune response broadly, Belimumab targets the specific cells that act as Lupus triggers, leaving other immune cells untouched.
For more info on T cell research: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26001779
Belimumab approved! http://www.lupusuk.org.uk/belimumab-finally-approved/
Lupus Foundation of America on stem cell research: http://www.lupus.org/research/stem-cells-and-lupus-research
Stem cell research remains one of the most promising avenues of exploration for Lupus treatment, and treatment of a lot of other types of illnesses.
Wondering what’s going on with these posts? Check out my explanation HERE!
This Isolation Life 