Immune police recognize good and bad guys in the body

MedColGa submitted, created time 1 year 3 months (www.discover8.com)

Immune system police are as good at recognizing bad guys, such as bacteria and viruses, as they are our own tissue, researchers say.

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: immune-system immune system component immune-system

Molecule That Destroys Bone Also Protects It, New Research Shows

cappuccion submitted, created time 1 year 7 months (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

An immune system component that is a primary cause of bone destruction and inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis actually protects bone in the oral cavity from infectious pathogens that play a major role in periodontal disease in humans, research at the University at Buffalo has shown. The component, IL-17, was recognized only in the past 18 months to be a primary cause of bone destruction and inflammation in autoimmune diseases. Therapies that target IL-17 or its cellular receptor currently are being developed.

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: periodontal disease immune system component IL-17