Our Ancient Immune System

When we think of our immune system, we tend to think of antibodies that develop to defend our system from attack, keeping us protected from a repeat infection. This is what’s known as our adaptive immune system. Our system however is made up of two systems, adaptive, and innate, and our innate immune system is so old, it goes back to frogs, fish, and insects.

In Queensland, Australia an international research team have found a connection between immune system pathways and inflammatory diseases such as IBD, and colitis. “Researchers always thought key components of these pathways acted alone, but our teams have discovered they can communicate and work together.” Said Professor Matt Cooper from the University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Biology. “So, in one case it’s keeping us alive by stopping the bugs getting us, but if it goes wrong, we start to get diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis and IBDs such as colitis.” Inflammatory diseases like colitis and it’s symptoms of pain diarrhea fever and weight loss occurs when the immune system is inappropriately activated

This significant breakthrough could lead to more effective treatment of a whole range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. “Current treatments are not always effective, possibly because they are only blocking one of the key pathways and inflammation still occurs through the other pathway.” Said Cooper.  “This work is still in the early stages but we are hopeful our ongoing research will lead to more effective treatments for the millions of IBD sufferers.”

You can read more about the study here.