Scientists from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have made a discovery that may explain why some people suffer from both leukemia and autoimmune diseases.
This could lead to better ways to treat or even prevent these serious health conditions.
Leukemia is a kind of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. Autoimmune diseases, on the other hand, happen when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and aplastic anemia.
Doctors have known for some time that people with leukemia are more likely than others to also have autoimmune diseases. But until now, they didn’t fully understand why. This new study gives us a possible explanation.
The researchers looked closely at a type of immune cell called a killer T cell. Normally, these cells help the body by attacking viruses, cancer cells, and other dangerous invaders. But in some cases, these cells can go rogue. Instead of protecting the body, they start attacking healthy cells.
The team focused on a protein called STAT3. This protein helps control how T cells and B cells (another kind of immune cell) grow and act. Using a powerful tool called CRISPR/Cas9, the scientists changed the STAT3 gene in mice. They also studied blood samples from children who had rare inherited autoimmune diseases.
What they found was striking. When the STAT3 gene had certain mutations, it caused killer T cells to grow out of control. These rogue cells became larger, stronger, and more dangerous. Even though they made up only a small part of the immune system—just 1 to 2 percent—they were enough to cause big problems.
Normally, the immune system has rules and checks that stop it from harming the body. But these rogue cells were able to ignore those rules. They kept growing and attacking, which could lead to autoimmune disease.
The scientists also found that two systems inside cells, called receptor systems, play a role. These systems help cells respond to stress and send signals to each other. When they are affected by the same mutations, they might also help the T cells turn rogue.
This research gives doctors a better idea of how autoimmune diseases begin. It also offers hope for better treatments. Some medicines, like JAK inhibitors, already target similar parts of the immune system.
These drugs are approved in Australia and other countries. The new findings suggest that these drugs might work better in people with these specific gene changes.
In the future, doctors may be able to test blood samples more closely to find rogue cells before they cause damage. This would allow for earlier and more personalized treatment.
The study was led by Dr. Etienne Masle-Farquhar and published in the journal Immunity. It shows that one small change in the immune system can cause two very different—but very serious—diseases: cancer and autoimmunity.
If you care about medicine, please read studies that vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases, and drug for inflammation may stop spread of cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about which drug can harm your liver most, and results showing this drug can give your immune system a double boost against cancer.
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