Scientists have recently developed a groundbreaking technique that has the potential to revolutionize the discovery and development of new therapeutics for various autoimmune diseases. These conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are caused by altered cytokine secretion in immune cells within the body. To find effective treatments for these diseases, researchers need to identify the genetic regulators of cytokine secretion.
An international team of researchers has developed a new method called Secretion-Enabled Cell Ranking and Enrichment (SECRE). In a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, they demonstrated that SECRE accurately sorts hundreds of millions of CRISPR-edited cells based on their secretion patterns and identifies the genetic regulators of cytokine secretion in autoimmune conditions. The method also takes into account the profiles of approved and under development therapies to explore new therapeutic possibilities.
The researchers validated their approach on cells known to play a crucial role in the development and severity of IBD. The study shows promising potential for identifying new treatment approaches for autoimmune conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. The project, which lasted about four years, involved scientists from the UK, US, and Canada, who specialize in engineering tools for disease diagnosis and treatment. The team was led by Professor Shana Kelley, President of the Chan-Zuckerberg Institute and Professor at Northwestern University.
Dr. Mahmoud Labib, Lecturer at the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Medical School and the main inventor of the approach, described this technique as novel and potentially beneficial for patients, clinicians, and drug companies working on new treatments. The ability to sort cells based on their secretion patterns and identify therapeutic targets can provide much-needed options for conditions that currently have limited treatment options.
The researchers also plan to extend their work to cancer, including aggressive brain tumors. Furthermore, the team examined the effect of several kinase inhibitors, including XMU-MP1, on CD4+ T cells that produce interferon gamma, a protein implicated in several autoimmune diseases, including IBD. XMU-MP1, previously explored as a treatment for heart failure and hair loss, was found to significantly reduce weight loss and colitis symptoms in mice with a form of colitis similar to IBD. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that inhibiting interferon gamma production in the gut using XMU-MP1 could be a promising approach to control IBD.
The SECRE technique captures the secreted cytokines on the surface of cells using magnetic nanoparticles and a microfluidic device. It allows for rapid and high-throughput sorting of cells based on their secretion patterns, making it suitable for large-scale genetic screens. This approach also connects the functional signature of a cell with its phenotype, enabling selective sorting of specific subsets of immune cells based on specific cell-surface markers and secretion-specific factors.
In conclusion, the development of the SECRE technique offers exciting prospects for understanding the causes and finding effective treatments for autoimmune diseases. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly impact the lives of millions of individuals worldwide who suffer from these conditions. Further research and clinical trials will be necessary to explore the full clinical implications and therapeutic applications of this innovative technique.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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