485 | id == 485
485 | category_id == 28
485 | category_order == 25
485 | category_name == Joint Inflammation
485 | category_color == #C47AC0
485 | slug == IL2RA-rheumatoid-arthritis
485 | title == Can This Cytokine Fight Autoimmune Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis? (IL2RA)
485 | meta_description == IL2RA encodes a receptor for anti-inflammatory IL-2. Can this gene protect you from autoimmunity & rheumatoid arthritis?
485 | summary == <p><strong><em>IL2RA </em>encodes a receptor for the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-2. Can this gene protect you from autoimmunity &amp; rheumatoid arthritis? Find out here.</strong></p>
485 | overall_score_text == Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Score (based on IL2RA)
485 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL2RA-Rheumatoid-arthritis.jpg
485 | author_id == 1
485 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
485 | author_title == BSc, BEd
485 | author_order == 36
485 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
485 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
485 | reviewer == None
485 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
485 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
485 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
485 | publish_date == 2020
485 | publish_date == 11
485 | publish_date == 17
485 | avg_rating == 5.0
485 | tags_id == 33
485 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
485 | tags_id == 393
485 | tags_name == IL-2
485 | tags_id == 921
485 | tags_name == IL2RA gene
485 | tags_id == 95
485 | tags_name == Immune System
485 | tags_id == 24
485 | tags_name == Inflammation
485 | tags_id == 82
485 | tags_name == Rheumatoid Arthritis
485 | permissions_favorite == False
485 | permissions_rate == False
485 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL2RA </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes a receptor for the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-2. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL2RA</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the production of Tregs. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by increasing IL-2 and Treg production.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>IL2RA</em></strong><strong> and Rheumatoid Arthritis</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il2ra/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL2RA</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene helps make a receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2), a crucial protein involved in the immune response. By promoting the growth of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">regulatory T cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tregs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), IL-2 helps reduce the inflammation associated with both allergies and autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3559"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706157/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3432919/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27259854/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6986328/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-2 increases the production of memory T cells, which &ldquo;remember&rdquo; and grant immunity to previously encountered infections [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29980618"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15473953/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28948612"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-2 also helps subdue the immune response and prevent autoimmunity. IL-2 prevents autoimmune inflammation by increasing Tregs (regulatory T cells) and decreasing the production of highly inflammatory </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-people-th1-dominant/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Th1</span></a><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/th17/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">7</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Animals lacking IL-2 develop serious autoimmune conditions. As such, IL-2 is primarily anti-inflammatory [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29980618"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15473953/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100298/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animals that lack IL-2 develop serious autoimmune diseases. IL-2 appears to suppress autoimmunity by increasing Tregs (regulatory T cells) and decreasing the production of highly inflammatory Th17 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16333313"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29980618"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15473953/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100298/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the likely reason why variation in the receptor for IL-2 is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. People with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL2RA</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants that reduce IL-2 signalling are more likely to develop this autoimmune disease [</span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/30423114"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL2RA</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes a receptor for the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-2. IL-2 stimulates </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Treg</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> production and decreases autoimmune inflammation, and genetic variants with low IL-2 activity are associated with rheumatoid arthritis.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>IL2RA</em></strong><strong> Results for Rheumatoid Arthritis</strong></h2> <p>*7637041690935837*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il2ra/"><strong>IL2RA</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs706778/"><strong>rs706778</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/30423114"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Possibly protective against rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may increase the activity of IL-2 receptors [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29980618/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il2ra/"><strong>IL2RA</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs10795791/"><strong>rs10795791</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467986/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may decrease the activity of IL-2 receptors [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29980618/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il2ra/"><strong>IL2RA</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs947474/"><strong>rs947474</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467986/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/26546613"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/30423114"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher rates of rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Possibly protective against rheumatoid arthritis.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may increase the activity of IL-2 receptors [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29980618/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*7567955070815147*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Arthritic Inflammation</strong></h2> <p>*7884180365864357*</p> <h3><strong>Aquatic Exercise</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In multiple studies of both humans and animals, physical </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> increased IL-2 signalling in muscle tissues and blood [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4998103/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132727/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Swimming also significantly increased Tregs in adolescents with and without inflammatory diseases [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4822516/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The type of exercise most frequently recommended for rheumatoid arthritis patients is aquatic exercise: any type of physical activity that takes place either partially or fully submerged in water. These activities can allow people to maintain physical fitness and reap the benefits of exercise even when they are not fully mobile out of the water [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5931167/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 clinical trials of over 250 people with rheumatoid arthritis comparing the effects of different types of exercise, aquatic exercise produced the greatest </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pain-management/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reduction [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8971230/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1821024/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Aquatic exercise may increase IL-2 signalling, stimulate Treg production, and decrease pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients without requiring full mobility out of the water.</span></p> <h3><strong><em>Lactobacillus casei</em></strong><strong> Probiotics</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a cell study, the BL23 strain of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/l-casei/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lactobacillus casei</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a popular </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/probiotics-good-bacteria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">probiotic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, significantly increased production of IL-2 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6336716/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mice receiving </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">L. casei</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> probiotics also had increased numbers of Tregs in their spleens [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370538/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 clinical trials on over 100 people with rheumatoid arthritis, supplementation with a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lactobacillus casei</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> strain for 8 weeks reduced joint pain and inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24355439/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24673738/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This strain also relieved rheumatoid arthritis in mice and rats [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21810608/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20838859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18804867/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The probiotic </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lactobacillus casei</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may stimulate the production of IL-2 and Tregs and improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.</span></span></p> <h3><strong>Garlic</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In cell studies, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garlic-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and its active compound allicin supported the immune response by increasing IL-2 production. Clinical studies are needed to confirm this effect in humans [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10737264/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30500420/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8402735/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of 70 women with rheumatoid arthritis, those who consumed supplementary </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garlic-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had improved antioxidant status, pain scores, and general quality of life compared to those who were given a placebo. The effects were apparent at doses of 500 mg of garlic per day, which could be achieved through diet or supplements [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32159257/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Allicin, an active compound in garlic, may support a healthy immune system by increasing IL-2. Garlic has also improved rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in a clinical trial.</span></p> <h3><strong>Vitamin E</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-can-help-fertility-pregnancy/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin E</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a broad term for two types of fat-soluble nutrients&mdash;tocopherols and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-can-help-fertility-pregnancy/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tocotrienols</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash;each comprising four different classes: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The most abundant forms in food are alpha- and gamma-tocopherol [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649464/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956867/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-can-help-fertility-pregnancy/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin E</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> intake may stimulate IL-2 production, according to multiple animal studies in rodents and chickens [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266234/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2327029/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One study found that vitamin E supplements (600 mg twice a day for twelve weeks), when added to conventional rheumatoid arthritis therapy, improved pain but not inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752293/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin E may support IL-2 production and improve pain scores in rheumatoid arthritis.</span></p>
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485 | content_learn_more_7567955070815147_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your IL2RA gene is somewhat associated with autoimmune inflammation. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of rheumatoid arthritis; it’s just one gene related to it. Aquatic exercise, Lactobacillus probiotics, garlic, and vitamin E may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs947474,rs10795791,rs706778
rsStatus = rs947474,LINC02656,chr10,6348488,G,A,C,T,19,12,HET
rsStatus = rs10795791,,chr10,6066377,A,G,,,16,14,HET
rsStatus = rs706778,IL2RA,chr10,6056986,C,T,,,23,14,HET
