Publications by authors named "Mirthe S Lourens"
Did variants in inborn errors of immunity genes contribute to the extinction of Neanderthals?
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol
December 2022
Background: Neanderthals were a species of archaic humans that became extinct around 40,000 years ago. Modern humans have inherited 1-6% of Neanderthal DNA as a result of interbreeding. These inherited Neanderthal genes have paradoxical influences, while some can provide protection to viral infections, some others are associated with autoimmune/auto-inflammatory diseases.
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- Scientists studied how certain immune cells respond to a signal that usually helps the body fight infections in people with a condition called primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).
- They found that specific immune cells in pSS patients can produce more of a signaling molecule called IFNα when activated, even compared to healthy people.
- The research suggests that these immune cells are very sensitive to the signal and may react strongly, not just in patients with high levels of this immune response.