By Ariya Patel
Understanding the Immune System
The body’s immune system operates similarly to a set of armor, protecting organs and tissues against invading pathogens. A normally functioning immune system is able to distinguish between human cells and foreign pathogens. However, in some instances, the immune system overreacts, causing a legion of antibodies and B cells to attack non-pathogenic substances like certain ingested foods, a common example being peanuts, and even the body’s own cells.
Nearly 1 out of every 3 adults is diagnosed with some form of allergy, and 1 out of every 10 adults is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Allergic reactions occur when the body comes into contact with a foreign substance and attempts to attack it, causing a potentially harmful reaction. In contrast, autoimmune diseases are characterized as a dysfunction of the immune system where the immune system attacks its own healthy cells rather than harmful pathogens. A recent study is now prompting scientists to explore the likelihood of a genetic connection between allergies and autoimmune diseases, a discovery that may lead to the earlier diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.
A contact reaction caused by an autoimmune disease.
The BACH2 Gene
A researcher at the National Cancer Institute-Rahul Roychoudhuri- has discovered a gene known as BACH2 that plays a primary role in the development of allergies and autoimmune diseases. BACH2 is thought to play a critical role in the reactivity of the immune system, controlling the specialization of immune cells. The study concluded that even minor variations in the BACH2 gene can cause a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, lupus, celiac disease, and allergies.
The BACH2 gene is able to regulate the reactivity of the immune system by determining the function of T cells. T cells, which can have either a regulatory or inflammatory function, are controlled by the BACH2 gene. When variations occur in the BACH2 gene, an imbalance between the number of regulatory and inflammatory T cells occurs, with a greater number of inflammatory T cells present.. In turn, the body has a higher chance of reacting to unharmful substances than is expected of a normally functioning immune system.
A Connection Between Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases
Due to the role of genes such as BACH2 in regulating broad immune responses, scientists believe individuals with a dysfunctional immune system can display different forms of immune dysregulation. Thus, in many cases, individuals who have an autoimmune disease also have some form of allergy. This relationship between abnormal immune responses has led many health professionals to theorize that autoimmune diseases are often clustered, frequently with allergies.
While further research is needed to confirm these theories, the exploration of this subject is thought to have major implications for the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases. In the future, we may see an increase in the early diagnosis of autoimmune illnesses, especially in children.
Sources
Autoimmune Diseases. (n.d.). National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm
Autoimmune disorders found to affect around one in ten people. (2023, May 6). University of Oxford. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-05-06-autoimmune-disorders-found-affect-around-one-ten-people
Ng, A. E., & Boersma, P. (2023, January 26). Products - Data Briefs - Number 460 - January 2023. CDC. Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db460.htm
NIH scientists find link between allergic and autoimmune diseases in mouse study. (2013, June 2). National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved August 17, 2023, from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-scientists-find-link-between-allergic-autoimmune-diseases-mouse-study
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