T cell’s ‘suicide’ handshake could fend off autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis occur when immune cells become overactive and attack healthy tissues in the body. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered a process the body uses to eliminate the T cells that cause autoimmune disorders—a finding they believe could inspire new therapies for these diseases. The process of killing harmful immune cells starts with thymocytes, which are precursor cells that eventually mature into T cells. The researchers discovered a mechanism by which the body recognizes abnormally aggressive thymocytes and prompts them to commit suicide before they mature into T cells, according to a statement from the university.