Another Piece of the Complicated Puzzle

As we have been discussing, in the case of Down syndrome, the balance of DYRK1A gene and DSCR1 gene is off. They are at 1.5 times the normal amount. Another aspect of this imbalance that may make it a really big deal is that one of the major things this affects is the immune system.

Immunosuppressant drugs are used to turn down the immune system when, for example, a person has an organ transplant. The drugs help to turn down the immune system so that the organ is not rejected. The way immunosuppressant drugs work is exactly like having too much DYRK1A and DSCR1. The person with Down syndrome is in a constant state of suppressing their immune system.