🤕 Did you know that while our immune system is crucial for maintaining our health, it can sometimes turn into the worst enemy? This is particularly evident in autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

🔬 Under normal conditions, immune cells such as neutrophils and lymphocytes patrol our bodies, seeking out harmful pathogens and foreign invaders. Yet, in some instances, they mistakenly target our own tissues. In patients with RA, the immune system attacks the joint linings, resulting in chronic painful inflammation that, over time, can damage both cartilage and bone. The intricacies of this disease's mechanisms remain elusive, emphasizing the importance of continued research and drug development to assist those affected.

💊 In the present study, scientists treated RA patients with a drug called "tofacitinib." This medication binds to key molecules on our immune cells (JAK-receptor), leading to two important outcomes:

💡 It disarms effector lymphocytes, typically responsible for joint attacks, by preventing their differentiation and activation.

💡 Tofacitinib induces "senescence" in Lymphocyte T memory cells, causing them to lose vital functionalities.

✅ These findings are undoubtedly exiting for RA research and future findings!

🙆‍♂️ A big thank you to authors Eva Acosta Rodríguez, Vanina Alamino, and Luisina Onofrio from Facultad de Ciencias Químicas - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba for inviting me to collaborate with my sciart!

If you are interested in this study, here is the link to the complete article: https://lnkd.in/grr3RR-F 

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