Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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B Cells Can Act Alone in Autoimmune Diseases
THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- B cells may be more responsible for causing autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis than initially thought, according to a new study. The finding, published in the Aug. 7 online issue of the journal Immunity, may give scientists a new path to pursue in finding ways to stop the immune system''s chronic attacks on the body''s own tissue during these diseases. B cells, the source of damaging auto-antibodies, have long been thought to remain quiet in autoimmune diseases unless they are given a kick-start by T-cells. Researchers from Yale and Boston universities had found that toll-like receptors recognize and react to "self" molecules, in particular mammalian DNA and RNA. When this occurs, these receptors help activate B cells that make the classical auto-antibodies of lupus. These signals, like those from T-cells, start the autoimmune process in B cells. In the new study, the researchers theorize that once activated in this way, the B cells can subsequently recruit T-cells. This creates a "vicious cycle" of chronic autoimmune disease in which the two types of cell prod each other into action. The findings could explain why autoimmune-disease treatments aimed at T-cells have not done as well as those targeting B cells, the researchers said. More information The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about autoimmune diseases.
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