Lupus risk is associated with chronic exposure to staph (staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. A study from the Mayo Clinic revealed that chronic exposure to staph – even in small amounts – increases the risk of lupus.
Staph is commonly found in the nose or on the skin, and can lead to infections. The researchers exposed mice to low doses of a protein found in staph and found that the mice developed a lupus-like illness with kidney disease and autoantibodies commonly found in lupus patients.
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Coauthor Vaidehi Chowdhary said, “We think this protein could be an important clue to what may cause or exacerbate lupus in certain genetically predisposed patients. Our hope is to confirm these findings in lupus patients and hopefully prevent flares.”
Researchers also question whether treating patients for staph could prevent lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the joints. Lupus is difficult to diagnose, because it can mimic many other disorders, as well as it can affect all parts of the body. It is difficult to determine the cause of lupus, just like in many other autoimmune diseases, but the study results shed light onto at least one possible cause.
In the mice models, the animals were given a staph protein, which is activated by certain white blood cells to set off an inflammatory response that mirrors lupus. In studies conducted on humans, the results confirmed that chronic exposure to staph has contributed to a diagnosis of lupus.
Infections may be fatal for lupus patients
An alternative study explored that opportunistic infections (OIs) may be fatal for lupus patients. Although not common – only affecting nearly one-third of patients – they are quite serious and even fatal. Unfortunately, diagnosing OIs can be difficult, and these infections are often overlooked, as symptoms may resemble lupus flares.
OIs may be caused by immunosuppressant therapy and abnormalities in the immune system. Common bacteria, which lead to OIs in lupus patients, are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Aside from being threatening to lupus patients, OIs may onset the condition in individuals without lupus. The authors of the study noted, “Dysregulation of miRNAs due to viral infections, such as EBV [Epstein-Barr virus] or HCV [hepatitis C virus], may promote the development of autoimmunity through their association with components of the RNAi [RNA interference] pathway.” The researchers found 16 microRNAs in lupus patients compared to control ones.
The researchers do note that some infections like malaria and parasitic infections may protect individuals from lupus.
If you have lupus, it is important that you protect yourself from illness and infection, as it can be quite severe. On the other hand, if you don’t have lupus, you can take preventative measures one step further and protect yourself from developing lupus too.
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Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120808142001.htm
http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/767113
