sugar coated RNA immune system autoimmune disease research

How Sugar-Coated RNA Tricks the Immune System: A Breakthrough in Autoimmune Disease Research

Introduction

The immune system interprets unprotected RNA as evidence of viral or bacterial invasion, prompting an attack. However, since our cells also possess RNA, they protect it by encasing it in sugars, according to Vijay Rathinam's team at the UConn School of Medicine and Ryan Flynn at Boston Children's Hospital writing in Nature.

RNA and the Immune System

What is RNA?

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a class of large biological molecules essential to life in all its forms—viruses, bacteria and animals alike.

How the Immune System Reacts to RNA

Viruses such as measles, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and rabies all carry RNA, prompting the immune system to respond aggressively when it detects RNA in the bloodstream or other inappropriate sites. Yet our own cells also contain RNA, sometimes presenting it openly on their surface, visible to patrolling immune cells—remarkably, without provoking attack.

The Challenge of Distinguishing Self from Invader

The Central Question

"Identifying RNA as an indicator of infection poses a challenge, given that every cell within the human body contains RNA," notes immunologist Vijay Rathinam from the UConn School of Medicine. "The real question is how the immune system tells apart our own RNA from that of harmful intruders."

Discovery of Glycosylated RNA

The Role of Sugars in Immune Evasion

Previous investigations by Ryan Flynn of Bostan Children's Hospital and Carolyn Bertozzi of Stanford University discovered that our bodies affix sugars to RNA. These sugar-coated RNA, termed glycosylated RNAs or glycoRNAs, are found on cell surfaces yet appear to evade immune detection.

Research Hypothesis

Rathinam and his team speculated that the sugars might be shielding glycoRNAs from immune detection—a possible mechanism by which the body avoids inflammation caused by its own RNA.

Experimental Findings

Sugar Removal Test

When Vincent Graziano, a doctoral student in Rathinam's laboratory and lead author of the study, removed the sugars from glycoRNA taken from human cell cultures and blood, then reintroduced it into cells, immune cells attacked it. The same RNA, when sugarcoated had previously been ignored.

Key Insight

"The sugar coating conceals our own RNA from detection by the immune system," says Rathinam.

Significance for the Human Body

Protecting Against Unnecessary Inflammation

This is especially important for the body, as cells are frequently coated with glyconRNAs. When they die and are cleared away by the immune system, the RNA's sugar covering stops them from needlessly triggering inflammation.

Implications for Autoimmune Diseases

Potential Connection to Disorders

These findings may prove valuable in considering autoimmune diseases. Conditions such as lupus are linked to certain RNAs and dead cells that trigger immune responses.

Future Research Directions

Now that researchers grasp the role of RNA glycosylation in diverting immune system attention, they can examine whether this mechanism is malfunctioning and how it might be remedied.

Source

Explore More Health, Science and Environmental Insights

Stay informed with trusted resources that expand on groundbreaking research like sugar-coated RNA and its role in immune system function.

Human Health Issues—Your go-to blog for in-depth health research, medical breakthroughs and wellness insights.

FSNews365—Daily updates on cutting-edge science, technology and innovation shaping our future.

Earth Day Harsh Reality—Eye-opening articles on environmental challenges, climate change and global sustainability.

Read the full article and explore how scientific advancements are changing the way we understand health and the environment.

keto-diet-autoimmune-health-ms-treatment

The Keto Diet and Autoimmune Health: A New Path to Anti-Inflammatory Treatment?

Introduction: The Keto Diet's Potential in Treating Autoimmune Disorders

The ketogenic diet has long been thought by scientists to potentially ease immune hyperactivity, showing promise for diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Recent data now suggest that this theory my be well-founded.

Key Findings from UC Scan Francisco Researchers

Diet's Impact on Gut Microbes and MS Symptoms in Mice

Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that the diet prompts the gut and its microbes to generate two factors that alleviated MS symptoms in mice. If applicable to humans, this study could open new avenues for treating MS and other autoimmune disorder through supplements.

The Ketogenic Diet Explained

The ketogenic diet greatly limits foods high in carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, fruits, and sugars, while permitting unrestricted fat intake. In the absence of carbohydrates, the body metabolizes fat, generating ketone bodies that serve as an energy source for cells and have the capacity to modulate immune function.

β-Hydroxybutyrate (βHB) and Its Role in Immune Function

βHB and Milder MS Symptoms in Mice

In studies using a mouse model of MS, researchers observed that mice with higher levels of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) exhibited milder disease symptoms.

Mechanism: Lactobacillus Murinus and Indole Lactic Acid (ILA)

The increased levels of βHB also stimulated the gut bacterium Lactobacillus murinus to produce a metabolite known as Indole Lactic Acid (ILA), which inhibited the activation of T helper 17 immune cells, implicated in MS and other autoimmune conditions.

Researcher Insights: Peter Turnbaugh's Findings

"What was most exciting was that we were able to protect these mice from inflammatory disease merely by putting them on a diet enriched with these compounds," said Peter Turnbaugh, Ph.D., of the Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine.

Exploring βHB's Impact on the Gut Microbiome

Investigating the Effects of βHB on Mice with MS

Turnbaugh had previously shown that βHB, when secreted by the gut, helps counter immune activation. This insight inspired Margaret Alexander, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, to explore whether the compound could reduce MS symptoms in mice.

Supplementing Mice with βHB to Improve Symptoms

In their latest study published in Cell Reports, the research team examined the effects of a ketone body-rich diet on mice that lacked the ability to produce βHB in their intestines. They found that these mice experienced more severe inflammation. However, when their diets were supplemented with βHB, the mice showed improvement.

Microbial Communities and Immune Response

Exploring the Gut Microbiome in MS Mice

In their study, the team explored how βHB influences the gut microbiome by isolating bacteria from the guts of three groups of mice on different diets: keto, high-fat, or βHB-supplemented high-fat. They screened the metabolic byproducts of the distinct microbial communities in an immune assay, revealing that the positive effects were attributed to Lactabacillus murinus, a species within the Lactabacillus genus.

Validation through Genome Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry

Genome sequencing and mass spectrometry further validated that the L. murinus identified by the team produced indole lactic acid, a compound known to influence the immune system. Ultimately, the researchers treated the MS mice with either ILA or L. murinus, resulting in an improvement in their symptoms.

Future Implications and Next Steps

Testing the Keto Diet Approach in Humans

Turnbaugh emphasized that the supplement-based approach must still undergo testing in individuals with autoimmune disorders before it can be considered for broader application.

"The crucial question is how effectively this will translate to real-world patients," he explained.

Promising Prospects for Autoimmune Treatment

"That said, I think these findings offer promising prospects for an easier, more tolerable alternative to the restrictive diet currently recommended." he concluded.

Source

Explore New Path for Autoimmune Health:

Are you or someone you know struggling with autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis? Stay informed about groundbreaking research on the ketogenic diet's potential to ease symptoms. Learn more about this promising treatment option and how it could change the future of autoimmune care.