Inflammation "Switch" Identified

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:22 am

Hi All,

In today's news: Scientists have found a protein that acts as a "master switch" to determine whether white cells will boost or dampen inflammation. At the Imperial College in London, scientists found a protein called IRF5 that serves as a molecular switch, controlling whether certain white cells (macrophages) will promote or inhibit inflammation. They speculate that blocking the production of this protein might be a way of treating autoimmune disease. (from the journal "Nature Immunology").

Interesting, no? Macrophages are the first line of defense in the immune system. Not only do they travel to the site of injury immediately in order to engulf (eat) foreign invaders, they release chemical mediators that announce to the other white cells that it is time for them to go into action too.

It feels to me like more of this kind of research will eventually be what helps us. Just a hunch..........

Love,

Polly

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:26 am

That's pretty interesting, Polly! Maybe it will lead to something that could help us.

Gloria

ant · Post by **ant** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:35 am

Dear Polly

Thanks for posting. If nothing else it could lead to a broader set of treatment options.

Best wishes, Ant

Post by **tex** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:28 am

Polly wrote:It feels to me like more of this kind of research will eventually be what helps us. Just a hunch..........

I believe you are right on target, with that observation. That does indeed sound very promising. The best part is, it addresses the cause of the inflammation, rather than trying to figure out a way to treat the symptoms after the inflammation becomes established.

Thanks.

Love,
Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:28 pm

Polly,

Finding the the switch to regulate inflammation is huge - the drug companies are probably salivating.

Mary Beth

Mags · Post by **Mags** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:11 pm

Thanks so much Polly!

This discovery could not only end up helping us but so many other people..how wonderful.

Mags

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:01 am

Thanks for the article Polly and we can all hope!

Mary Beth - absolutely loved your observation of the drug companies.

Love, Maggie

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:19 pm

Thanks for your thoughts on this Polly.

Wondering if you know anything about Autophagy? We haven't talk about it much here though. I did a search and it came up "somewhere" in this long thread.

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =autophagy

I googled IRF5 and found some references, this stands out for some reason, not sure why.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=us

Always interested in why?

Love,

Joanna

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:52 pm

Hmmmmmm. Now that's an interesting connection, isn't it.

Excellent article, Joanna.

Many thanks for posting that link.

Love,
Tex