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New Protein Identified to Help Researchers Understand Autoimmune Disorders
March 11, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Research News
The newly discovered protein, which goes by the name of NALP5, constitutes the target for the immune systems attacks on the parathyroid glands in the disease APS-1. This finding enables researchers to more closely study the first phase of autoimmune disorders in general, where immune cells, instead of attacking alien bacteria and viruses, erroneously attack the bodys own tissue.
The protein functions as a target for the immune cells in humans, but also in animal models for the disease that have the same genetic defect as APS-1 patients.
This means now, for the first time, in an experimental situation we will be able to compare the immune defense with exactly the same target protein in humans and in an animal model, says Mohammad AliMohammadi at the Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, who made the discovery.
The parathyroid glands are the most recently described anatomical structures in humans. They were discovered in 1879 by scientists at Uppsala University and regulate the bodys calcium balance. The fact that the protein NALP5 was found in the parathyroid glands enhances our understanding of their functions. In the long run this discovery can make it possible to develop drugs and treatment methods for diseases producing disturbances in the calcium balance, such as osteoporosis.
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More News on: Protein Catabolic Rate, Myasthenia Gravis, Vitiligo, Autoimmune Disorders, Wegeners Granulomatosis, Microscopic Polyangiitis
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