A “reverse vaccine” could soon cure several autoimmune diseases

A new “reverse vaccine” could soon be used to treat the symptoms of several autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or type 1 diabetes.

Autoimmune diseases and immunosuppressants

When an autoimmune disease develops, the patient’s immune system begins to confuse healthy cells with problematic ones. These pathologies are therefore often treated using immunosuppressants responsible for stopping the action of the immune system, but this often poses problems.

“These treatments can be very effective, but they also block the immune responses needed to fight infections, leading to many harmful side effects for the body,” said Jeffrey Hubbell, director of the test during which he tested the new “reverse vaccine” mentioned at the beginning of the article.

“If we could treat patients with a new type of so-called “reverse” vaccine, it would be much more specific and cause fewer side effects.”he added.

Autoimmune diseases: how does a “reverse vaccine” work?

Concretely, its “reverse vaccine” would remove from the immune system’s memory a molecule that it would otherwise attack. For example, in the case of multiple sclerosis, it would prevent immune cells from attacking myelin, the protective layer that surrounds nerve cells.

A mechanism that has already been successfully tested on mice suffering from multiple sclerosis. “What’s exciting about our work is that we’ve shown that we can treat diseases like multiple sclerosis after inflammation has occurred,” concludes Mr. Hubbell.

It now remains to have this new type of vaccine officially approved when it is used on humans. Phase I clinical trials have already been carried out using a similar method to treat celiac disease – a condition that causes the body to attack itself after consuming gluten – and research is also underway for the multiple sclerosis.

Today, it is estimated that 5 to 8% of the world’s population is affected by an autoimmune disease.