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NEW Ajou University Professor Chang Hee Suh discovers the cause of lupus, an intractable disease

  • 2019-02-22
  • 11011





Ajou University Professor Chang Hee Suh (School of Medicine) discovered the cause of lupus, an intractable disease. Lupus is a disease in which immune cells attack normal cells due to an immune system abnormality, causing inflammation in other tissues of the human body. 


 


A team led by Professor Suh of the Rheumatology Clinic found that the genetic mutation of Ets1 influences the occurrence of lupus. The findings, which are based on joint research with researchers from the Academy of Immunology and Microbiology under the Institute for Basic Science and POSTECH, were published in The Immunity, a renowned academic journal in immunology.


 


Lupus, which involves butterfly-shaped flushing, causes inflammation of the skin, kidney, and joints, etc., and can even be fatal. It is known to occur in about 1 in 1,000 people. While over 60 genetic mutations have been linked to the disease, it was not known which gene directly influences its occurrence.


 


The research team focused on a gene known as 'Ets1' that is most commonly found in Asian lupus patients and discovered that its mutation induces the disease and a certain T cell is a fundamental factor. 


 


The team confirmed that Ets1 protein appeared less in the T cells of Korean lupus patients' blood and Ets1's mutation was closely related with the severity of the disease. Researchers explained that a new tissue named 'Tfh2' was found to be significant because it heavily affected immune cells related to worsening clinical symptoms of patients as confirmed in animal testing. 


 


Professor Suh said, "The findings were achieved through collaboration between immunologists and clinical doctors," adding, "Animal test results were meaningful in that they helped to identify similar pathological phenomenon in patients, and I look forward to follow-up research to develop new medicines based on the findings."