Groundbreaking discovery identifies fundamental imbalance in immune responses of lupus patients
Potential cure for lupus could revolutionize treatment
Scientists from Northwestern University and Brigham and Women's Hospital discover cause of lupus
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists from Northwestern University and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified the cause of lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects millions worldwide. The researchers discovered a fundamental imbalance in the immune responses of lupus patients, which can be corrected to dampen the pathologic autoimmune response. This potential cure for lupus could revolutionize the way we treat this debilitating condition.
According to Dr. Deepak Rao, one of the study's authors,
Researchers identified a possible cause of lupus that could lead to a cure for the condition.
Impaired body process related to environmental pollutants, bacteria, and metabolites was identified in the blood samples of people with lupus.
When the researchers made changes to target that process, lupus-causing cells seemed to be reprogrammed into a different type promoting protection and repair.
Accuracy
Specific mediators have been defined to correct the imbalance and dampen the autoimmune response.
An estimated 1.5 million people have lupus in the U.S.
Scientists may have found a molecular defect that leads to systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
People with lupus share certain molecular changes causing a dramatic imbalance in the types of T-cells they generate
This imbalance results in too many harmful T-cells and too few helpful ones necessary for cell repair
Interferon promotes the excess accumulation of T cells, contributing to lupus disease
The activation of one specific protein, AHR, can prevent T cells from developing into disease-causing cells
Researchers aim to use small molecule activators of AHR directed specifically toward T cells as a treatment for lupus
Accuracy
An estimated 5 million people have lupus globally, including 1.5 million in the U.S.
Impaired body process related to environmental pollutants, bacteria, and metabolites was identified in the blood samples of people with lupus.
Deception
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The article by Melissa Rudy contains some minor informal fallacies and an appeal to authority, but overall the information presented is accurate and well-supported. The author quotes several experts in the field of lupus research to provide context and insight into the study findings. No formal logical fallacies were identified in the text.
][Lupus is an autoimmune disease that at its core involves abnormal B cell activation and antibody production.][] The author correctly identifies lupus as an autoimmune disease and explains that it involves abnormal B cell activation and antibody production. This is a factual statement, not a fallacy.
Deepak Rao, M.D., PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told Fox News Digital via email.
This statement establishes the credibility of the source quoted in the article. It is not a fallacy to appeal to an expert's authority when reporting their professional opinions or findings.
