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Asked by blazingwhatyahhmean12 to Amy on 15 Jun 2011.
Question: Could You Tell Me How this Could Help People With Lupus?
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Amy MacQueen answered on 15 Jun 2011:
By “this” I guess you mean my research? Good question!!
People with Lupus have an overactive immune system that inappropriately attacks the DNA inside their own cells by making antibodies to it. This causes a lot of problems from skin rashes to kidney problems to joint inflammation.
Drugs that are being developed to block the protein PI3K (which I work on) reduces the ability of these cells to produce the antibodies. We think that if these drugs could be used in Lupus patients this effect might be beneficial for them by reducing the “bad” antibodies they make to their own DNA and therefore improving their symptoms!
Awesome. 🙂
Comments
blazingwhatyahhmean12 commented on :
Ok, because my sister has the disease.
Amy commented on :
I’m really sorry to hear that your sister has lupus – it can be very nasty. One of my colleagues, Ed, is a doctor who is now doing a PhD as well – he works specifically on lupus. So if you have any more questions about it please ask and I will get him on board to help me answer them!
blazingwhatyahhmean12 commented on :
Thank you