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perestroika

“Inverse vaccine” shows potential to treat multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases (pme.uchicago.edu)

submitted 1 year ago by perestroika to c/science

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The inverse vaccine, described in Nature Biomedical Engineering, takes advantage of how the liver naturally marks molecules from broken-down cells with “do not attack” flags to prevent autoimmune reactions to cells that die by natural processes.

PME researchers coupled an antigen — a molecule being attacked by the immune system— with a molecule resembling a fragment of an aged cell that the liver would recognize as friend, rather than foe. The team showed how the vaccine could successfully stop the autoimmune reaction associated with a multiple-sclerosis-like disease.

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[–] Five 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is great news, not just because it could end MS, diabetes, and arthritis, but it could also end the use of immunosuppressants typically used to manage these diseases. People using these treatments are much more susceptible to coronavirus and what ever new mutation or pandemic is coming down the line.

It could significantly reduce the susceptibility of disease of the entire human race. This is Nobel Prize level stuff.

[–] perestroika 2 points 1 year ago

What is even better, they are doing stage 1 (safety only, not efficacy) trials in humans already. I hope it doesn't get stuck in the testing pipeline but comes out of the other end. :)