Hibernating control cells or why inflammations become chronic

(University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common autoimmune disease of the joints. It causes a chronic inflammatory response, with the body's own immune cells attacking the joint, including the cartilage and bone. This process does not cease spontaneously. A research team headed by Dr. Andreas Ramming at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg has now managed to identify an immune system cell type that can be used in a targeted attempt to control the inflamm...