Stemcellsafari: Can Autoimmune Or Immune-mediated Disease Affect Any Body System Causing Severe Disease?
Autoimmunity refers to the collective immune responses that take place in pets when the immune system fights and destroys normal, healthy cells in the pet’s body. Autoimmune disease, which is also known as immune-mediated disease, happens in pets when their immune system attacks their body tissues and organs. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system destroys the body tissues because it identifies them as foreign bodies that should be removed.
Autoimmune diseases occur commonly in pets and can affect different systems in the body, resulting in severe disease. Autoimmunity can happen in all kinds of pets of different breeds and ages. In autoimmune diseases, killer T–Cells destroy other normal body cells and destroy them. Ideally, immune tolerance is naturally maintained by regulatory T-cells formed in the thymus. These regulatory T-cells control the actions of killer T-cells.
Immune tolerance is a natural phenomenon that helps control autoimmunity and also helps protect unborn fetuses, the gut, and red blood cells from attack by Killer T-cells in the immune system. Autoimmunity and immune-mediated diseases occur when there is a loss of immune tolerance because of an imbalance between regulatory T-cells and killer T-cells.
What Diseases does Autoimmunity cause in body systems and organs?
Circulatory system
Autoimmune responses involve attacks on red blood cells resulting in a blood disorder called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and attacks on platelets causing immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP). IMHA in dogs and ITP in dogs happen simultaneously in some dogs and can lead to severe conditions.
Digestive system
Autoimmune responses in the gut can cause inflammation, leading to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Musculoskeletal system
Autoimmunity can cause inflammatory responses in the joints, resulting in immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA).
Skin
Autoimmune responses can result in skin allergies like atopy and pemphigus.
Eyes
Autoimmunity can cause Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS), which leads to blindness.
How are Autoimmune Diseases Managed?
Because autoimmune diseases are life-threatening and difficult to treat conditions, they require strong immunosuppressants. Most of these immunosuppressive medications have major side effects and cannot cure pets of autoimmune conditions.
As a result, most pet owners have questions and concerns regarding the outcomes of autoimmune conditions ranging from the pet’s prognosis, side effects of the medications, and recurrent immune-mediated diseases.
Stem Cell Therapy
For the best outcomes in treating pet autoimmune diseases, stem cell therapy is recommended. This is because stem cells produce regulatory T-cells, which help control immune tolerance and restore balance in the immune system. Immune tolerance happens when stem cells release anti-inflammatory chemicals where there is inflammation. The stem cells concentrate on the inflammation site and release chemicals. Stem cells also produce new regulatory T-cells and reduce the production of antibodies.
Stem cell therapy can cure autoimmune diseases and is a safer alternative than immunosuppressive drugs.
At Safari Animal hospital, we grow stem cells for autoimmune disease treatment in our laboratory. Our laboratory is the first of its kind in private veterinary practice. You can book a remote consultation or visit Safarivet affordable pet clinic Houston Texas, for information about autoimmune diseases in pets and the best therapy for your pet using stem cells.