Interesting new drug research

[KimO]

The article below is about research done on a new drug that treats GVHD. Given its method of targeting T-Cells, it makes me wonder if it would work on Aplastic Anemia prior to transplantation:

http://www.rdmag.com/News/Feeds/2011...lts-disease-t/

[Lisa V]

That seems like a reasonable assumption, KimO, particularly if they're using it for other autoimmune conditions.

I'm curious, though. How are autoimmune diseases usually diagnosed? The findings here of metabolic differences in pathogenic T-cells sound relatively new. My understanding is that the only reason AA has come to be regarded as autoimmune is because it has shown response to immune suppressants, kind of a back-door conclusion. Are rogue T-lymphs more easily identifiable in conditions like lupus (or GVHD) than they are in AA, or do they just rely on symptoms?

At any rate, it's definitely an exciting area of inquiry! Hopefully human clinical trials will start happening before too much longer.