Is it possible to have a drug that could treat most, if not all, autoimmune disorders? Newly published research demonstrates how the human intestine generates and maintains "immune tolerance" under healthy conditions. Researchers at McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada, have discovered a molecule, pronounced "alpha v beta 6," that normally is used by the body to prevent unnecessary immune reactions. Scientists made this discovery in mice when they noticed that their intestines secreted alphavbeta6 when absorbing food. The alphavbeta6, together with the absorbed food, induced the body to produce immune tolerant cells. The researchers suggest that it may be the key to unlocking an entirely new set of treatments for autoimmune disorders.

"Our findings have the potential to repair the compromised immune tolerant system so as to lead the body immune system to 'correct' the ongoing pathological conditions by itself," says Dr. Ping-Chang Yang, one of the researchers.

Dr. John Wherry, Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology which published the findings, observes, "While considerable work remains to determine whether or not this discovery will directly translate into new therapies, the alphavbeta6 discovery reported by these scientists is exciting, if not stunning."

--Source: "Scientists discover a 'master key' to unlock new treatments for autoimmune disorders," Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, September 29, 2011