LIAI SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY IMMUNE SYSTEM TRIGGER FOR FIGHTING LYME DISEASE
Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) today announced an important finding on Lyme disease that could eventually lead to the development of a new vaccine to prevent this tick-borne disorder. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and sometimes skin rashes. If left untreated, it can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system and can lead to serious health problems.
LIAI scientist Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., and an international team of scientists, have identified that Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, contains a glycolipid which triggers an immune response from the body's natural killer (NK) T cells, a type of white blood cell. The finding is particularly exciting because it is one of the few glycolipids found to naturally induce an immune response from the body's NK T cells, which are prized for their ability to initiate a fast and vigorous attack against infection. Scientists are hopeful that this glycolipid can be used to create a vaccine against Lyme disease.
The finding was published today in the online version of the scientific journal Nature Immunology in a paper entitled, ``Natural killer T cells recognize diacylglycerol antigens from pathogenic bacteria.''
This was the second major finding on NK T cells published in the last year by Kronenberg and his team. In a June 2005 scientific paper in Nature , Kronenberg and colleagues identified a bacteria, Sphingomonas, as containing a glycolipid which also triggers an NK T cell response. Now that a total of three substances have been found to naturally activate the NK T cells, ``it opens up the idea that we should be looking at many different types of bacteria that may be able to activate these cells,'' Kronenberg said.
Most white blood cells respond to foreign proteins to protect the body, but NK T cells are unique in that they respond to glycolipids, which are natural biochemicals made of linked fat and sugar. Prior to Kronenberg's findings, only one compound, developed by the Kirin Pharmaceutical Research company in the1990s, was known to activate the NK T cells. In a surprising twist, that compound was initially discovered in marine sponges. The compound was found to have anti-tumor activity and is currently in clinical trials for several tumor types. Because the NK T cells are known to be responsible for the tumor fighting mechanism induced by the marine sponge compound, and because their mechanism of action has been so mysterious, the NK T cells have generated increased research interest over the last several years.
In particular, scientists wanted to know what substance would naturally activate the NK T cells. ``Although the synthetic compound was useful for many studies, we wanted to know what substance would normally cause the NK T cells to produce an immune response, and it was not believable that marine sponges normally stimulate our immune system,'' said Kronenberg, who is also LIAI's President and Scientific Director.
After identifying the Sphingomonas bacteria last year as an NK T cell activator, Kronenberg strongly suspected that other bacteria might also activate these cells, which led to the discovery of the Borrelia burgdorferi antigen. He believes many other types of bacteria may also produce an immune response from NK T cells. ``This is an exciting possibility that needs to be further explored as it could lead to the development of vaccines or treatments for many bacteria caused diseases,'' he said.
Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute, Rockefeller University, the National Institutes of Health, Albany Medical College, Harvard Medical School, and Industrial Research Ltd of New Zealand also participated in the study.
About LIAI
Founded in 1988, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology is a nonprofit medical research center dedicated to increasing knowledge and improving human health through studies of the immune system. Scientists at the institute carry out research searching for cures for cancer, allergy and asthma, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. LIAI's research staff includes more than 100 Ph.Ds.
[ 18. September 2006, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: stella marie ]
-------------------- Stella Marie Posts: 694 | From US | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020
posted
Yes, it is right up there with all the rest of the microbiological stuff that goes zipping over my head.
It was published in August and hasn't caused a lot of stir.
I focused in on this part.... [quote] LIAI scientist Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., and an international team of scientists, have identified that Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, contains a glycolipid which triggers an immune response from the body's natural killer (NK) T cells, a type of white blood cell.
The finding is particularly exciting because it is one of the few glycolipids found to naturally induce an immune response from the body's NK T cells, which are prized for their ability to initiate a fast and vigorous attack against infection.
Scientists are hopeful that this glycolipid can be used to create a vaccine against Lyme disease.
The finding was published today in the online version of the scientific journal Nature Immunology in a paper entitled, ``Natural killer T cells recognize diacylglycerol antigens from pathogenic bacteria.''
This was the second major finding on NK T cells published in the last year by Kronenberg and his team. In a June 2005 scientific paper in Nature , Kronenberg and colleagues identified a bacteria, Sphingomonas, as containing a glycolipid which also triggers an NK T cell response.
Now that a total of three substances have been found to naturally activate the NK T cells, ``it opens up the idea that we should be looking at many different types of bacteria that may be able to activate these cells,'' Kronenberg said.
[end quote]
Then my mind wandered to wondering how many patents will come from this one.
posted
This ties in with the CD57 test -- a measure of a specific subset of natural killer cells. Unfortunately the reality has not lived up to the theory in the real patient population.
People with low CD57 numbers are not always the sickest and an increase in that number does not always correlate with an improvement in symptoms.
What they found was the reason that the CD57 should be low in Lyme patients. Bb contains a glycolipid (fat and sugar molecule) that stimulates production of killer cells -- in theory if the immune system is overwhelmed by the Bb then the CD57 numbers would decrease.
I would put more faith in the CD57 test if it was followed from the time of the bite and it showed a big increase initially and then a decline as the immune system was overrun -- but to do this research would require that the patients not be given antibiotics and they let their immune system do the fighting without help.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
" a surprising twist, that compound was initially discovered in marine sponges. The compound was found to have anti-tumor activity and is currently in clinical trials for several tumor types. Because the NK T cells are known to be responsible for the tumor fighting mechanism induced by the marine sponge compound, and because their mechanism of action has been so mysterious, the NK T cells have generated increased research interest over the last several years. "
Does this mean Lyme might help prevent cancer?
Seriously, it would be nice if something good came out of my years of Lyme.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
No Aniek,
It's the stuff in the sponges that when introduced into the human body trigger killer cells to get active....and go after tumors...
not lyme,
sorry......
While this is great for the rest of the noninfected folks...what does it do for we lymies?????......not too much I guess......zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic