Protein that triggers JIA identified

02 March 2016

These findings are encouraging as they point to a potential treatment for children who suffer this debilitating disease.

Prior to this study, no autoantigens have been linked to JIA. Autoantigens are proteins that trigger the autoimmune attack.

The leader of this study Laura Santambrogio, M.D., Ph.D. has said:

Our findings regarding TTR’s involvement in JIA point to a potential treatment—encouraging news for children with this debilitating disease

A significant increase of TTR was found in 50 patients (with JIA), but not in any of the 26 control children who did not have JIA. Further analysis revealed that some JIA patients had unusually high levels of antibodies to the TTR protein. For more information, visit the links below.

Source: http://www.einstein.yu.edu/news/releases/1156/protein-that-triggers-juvenile-arthritis-identified/

Link to study: https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/85633