Saved you a click (and stupid intro) …
A typical vaccine teaches the human immune system to recognize a virus or bacteria as an enemy that should be attacked. The new “inverse vaccine” does just the opposite: it removes the immune system’s memory of one particular molecule. While such immune memory erasure would be unwanted for infectious diseases, it can stop autoimmune reactions like those seen in multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, in which the immune system attacks a person’s healthy tissues.
Here’s how it works
The inverse vaccine takes advantage of a natural process in which the liver marks molecules from broken-down cells with “do not attack” flags to prevent autoimmune reactions to those cells as they die by natural processes. PME researchers coupled an antigen—a molecule being attacked by the immune system—with a molecule resembling a fragment of an aged cell that the liver would recognize as friend rather than foe.
This is incredible. I’ve had 2 friends grow up with one of their parents suffering through MS. It is one of the cruelest diseases I’ve ever seen. Imagine eradicating it! I get bummed out nonstop… but, this is truly a giant step forward.
Agreed, my mom had MS and it was brutal from her 50s til the end. I grew up terrified that I would inherit it but hopeful of a treatment. I’m so very glad to see that we’re finally making good strides to treating this horrible disease.
I have been eagerly watching this since it was first reported on in September. I will literally throw myself at the researchers to be a test subject for RA when they get to it. Cannot fucking wait.
I’d be interested in whether this technique works on allergies.
