The NLRP3 receptor protein is responsible for detecting potential pathogens in the body and launching an immune response. (Image by MLGProGamer123 via Wikimedia Commons)
Chronic inflammation, which results when old age, stress or environmental toxins keep the body’s immune system in overdrive, can contribute to a variety of devastating diseases, from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to diabetes and cancer.
Now, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have identified a molecular “switch” that controls the immune machinery responsible for chronic inflammation in the body. The finding, which appears online Feb. 6 in the journal Cell Metabolism, could lead to new ways to halt or even reverse many of these age-related conditions.
“My lab is very interested in understanding the reversibility of aging,” said senior author Danica Chen, associate professor of metabolic biology, nutritional sciences and toxicology at UC Berkeley. “In the past, we showed that aged stem cells can be rejuvenated. Now, we are asking: to what extent can aging be reversed? And we are doing that by looking at physiological conditions, like inflammation and insulin resistance, that have been associated with aging-related degeneration and diseases.”
In the study, Chen and her team show that a bulky collection of immune proteins called the NLRP3 inflammasome — responsible for sensing potential threats to the body and launching an inflammation response — can be essentially switched off by removing a small bit of molecular matter in a process called deacetylation.
Overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked to a variety of chronic conditions, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, diabetes and dementia. Chen’s results suggest that drugs targeted toward deacetylating, or switching off, this NLRP3 inflammasome might help prevent or treat these conditions and possibly age-related degeneration in general.
“This acetylation can serve as a switch,” Chen said. “So, when it is acetylated, this inflammasome is on. When it is deacetylated, the inflammasome is off.”
By studying mice and immune cells called macrophages, the team found that a protein called SIRT2 is responsible for deacetylating the NLRP3 inflammasome. Mice that were bred with a genetic mutation that prevented them from producing SIRT2 showed more signs of inflammation at the ripe old age of two than their normal counterparts. These mice also exhibited higher insulin resistance, a condition associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
The team also studied older mice whose immune systems had been destroyed with radiation and then reconstituted with blood stem cells that produced either the deacetylated or the acetylated version of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Those who were given the deacetylated, or “off,” version of the inflammasome had improved insulin resistance after six weeks, indicating that switching off this immune machinery might actually reverse the course of metabolic disease.
“I think this finding has very important implications in treating major human chronic diseases,” Chen said. “It’s also a timely question to ask, because in the past year, many promising Alzheimer’s disease trials ended in failure. One possible explanation is that treatment starts too late, and it has gone to the point of no return. So, I think it’s more urgent than ever to understand the reversibility of aging-related conditions and use that knowledge to aid a drug development for aging-related diseases.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Aging-related degeneration
- Retinal Drugs Market Size Worth USD 9.5 Billion by 2032 at 6.30% CAGR – Report by Market Research Future (MRFR)
Retinal Drugs Market Overview: According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), "Retinal Drugs Market Information by Distribution ...
- Pegcetacoplan, a new treatment for macular degeneration
In February 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The drug, pegcetacoplan (commercial name Syfovre™), is ...
- Visgenx Appoints William Pedranti as Chief Executive Officer
The Company is developing VGX-0111, a gene therapy candidate for Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), an aging related disorder and a ...
- Age Related Molecular Degeneration Market is likely to propel to US$ 22.19 Million by 2033 | Says Future Market Insights
The global age-related molecular degeneration market is currently valued at US$ 11.28 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7%. Owing to the technological advances in healthcare ...
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most common cause of severe vision loss in elderly persons in developed countries and accounts for one-third of cases of untreatable vision loss.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Aging-related degeneration
[google_news title=”” keyword=”aging-related degeneration” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Chronic inflammation
- Can an Anti-Inflammatory Diet Help With Axial Spondyloarthritis?
While studies supporting the relationship between diet and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are extremely limited, following a Mediterranean diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may be helpful. Axial ...
- 8 Powerful Natural Remedies for Pain and Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response of the immune system to protect the body from injury and infection. However, when it becomes chronic, it can contribute to various health conditions, including ...
- The Anti-Inflammatory Dinner Ingredient Experts Say Can Help With Weight Loss
Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to debilitating health issues like chronic pain, digestive problems, lupus, or weight gain. Besides consistent exercise and drinking plenty of water, ...
- How To Build An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
An anti-inflammatory diet consists of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds and healthy fat and is thought to aid in reducing the risk of disease associated with chronic inflammation.
- Haims: Neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation
Two of the most common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Not only here in the United States, but also globally, these progressive debilitating diseases pose ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Chronic inflammation
[google_news title=”” keyword=”chronic inflammation” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]