A massive single-cell study has revealed hidden genetic differences in male and female immune systems that may shape disease risk in unexpected ways. New research from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney may help explain why women are far more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases, including lupus. Autoimmune diseases occur [...]

Vitamin D supplementation may help rebalance immune responses to gut bacteria in people with IBD, though larger controlled studies are needed. Vitamin D supplements may influence how the immune system reacts to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study led by Mayo Clinic and published in Cell Reports Medicine. [...]

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected mechanism by which the gut’s immune system maintains balance, challenging long-standing assumptions about how immune tolerance is regulated. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have uncovered an unexpected mechanism the immune system uses to prevent chronic inflammation in the intestine. The discovery could point to new treatment strategies for…

Scar-driven changes in joint tissue may underlie treatment resistance in rheumatoid arthritis, opening the door to new targeted therapies. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects millions worldwide, causing persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness when the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue lining the joints. Over the past two decades, an expanding toolkit of anti-inflammatory and…

A long-term clinical study suggests that intervening before rheumatoid arthritis fully develops may significantly alter its trajectory. Treating people before rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fully develops may buy them something medicine rarely can: time. A new long-term study suggests that in people at high risk, early treatment with abatacept can push back the start of the [...]

Researchers have identified a promising new strategy to treat autoimmune diseases by targeting a specific molecular interaction within immune cells. Scripps Research scientists have created a new group of drug compounds that reduce harmful inflammation without weakening the body’s ability to fight infections, a major challenge in treating autoimmune diseases. These compounds, known as…

A widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may offer an unexpected cardiovascular benefit. Methotrexate has been a staple treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for decades, valued for its ability to calm an overactive immune system and reduce painful joint inflammation. Now, researchers say it may deliver an unexpected bonus that matters far beyond the joints: lower [...]