Teen takes on donor's immune system

[Bones]

Thought this was worth a mention. It's pretty bizarre to say the least....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/24/2145289.htm?section=world

[Ed_McCarron]

I read that, its nuts.

Proof that eventually, stem cells will amount to something.  Just no clue what yet.

[whammoed]

Dr Michael Stormon says he and his colleagues were even more surprised when they found the girl's immune system had almost totally been replaced by that of the donor, meaning she no longer had to take anti-rejection drugs.

That makes no sense to me.  If she now has the immune system that came from the donor, wouldn't it attack all of her organs except the liver?  Seems she would need anti-rejection drugs even more.

[Bones]

That makes no sense to me.  If she now has the immune system that came from the donor, wouldn't it attack all of her organs except the liver?  Seems she would need anti-rejection drugs even more.

Great point..... I wonder what the explantion for this not happening is. 

[saint]

I would assume that her entire body adopted the immune system of the donor. Be interesting to see if this pans out and can be duplicated. Would help a lot of people.

[danny_galaga]

ha, i was going to post about this. incredible, isnt it? one might say a miracle, except no one has said praying was involved.

edit: but if we look at this story

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23106284-5007185,00.html

"Ted Udell of Covington, GA, USA writes:

    I will pray for Demi that her body continues to accept the organ and that she will have a full life."

 

 her body has adopted the donors immune system, which is why it ISNT attacking the rest of her. since no one knows why, it sounds like its gunna be near impossible to find anything else out about it. but im sure theyll be watching her very closely...

[whammoed]

her body has adopted the donors immune system

This is a useless statement without some biological explanation as to what it means.  Did her cells start producing antigens on their surface that are compatible with her new immune system?  Did her new immune system, for some reason, recognize the antigens on her cells as non-foreign and thus not attack them?  Might as well say that its just magic.
Without a reasonable explanation I'm also not sure how they can say this with any confidence...seems at any time her new immune system could start attacking her cells.  There is *obviously* still a lot we don't know about our immune system.

[Level42]

Saw her on TV (national news) here yesterday. Amazing story.

[shardian]

Maybe now people will believe the rumor that Keith Richards had a total blood transplant.

[Ed_McCarron]

it sounds like its gunna be near impossible to find anything else out about it. but im sure theyll be watching her very closely...

I'm sure that more than one doctor has at least thought "Wow, when this kid dies, the autopsy results are going to be worth a mint."

[Jdurg]

It's highly likely that the stem cells present in the donated liver were able to produce immune responses that were compatible with the donor liver AND the patient's own immune system.  As a result, the "factors" that would indicate a foreign body or a natural body all pointed to "natural" in this girl's body.

As a sufferer from an auto-immune disease myself (Type I diabetic for nearly 25+ years now.  My own immune system has made my life a living hell), this news is quite intriguing. 

I work in the pharmaceutical industry and it is AMAZING how scientists develop new compounds to treat various conditions.  At the same time, it's sad to see how finances play such a large role in what is researched and what is not.  I almost am battling myself since I want to see research into the cure for Diabetes, yet I know that the treatment of this ---smurfing--- disease creates so many jobs and money in this world.

[Havok]

Wow, a real life Borg. So this is how it starts...