University of Queensland researchers have discovered how the 'on-switch' for the body's inflammation machinery can get stuck and cause rare genetic inflammatory diseases.
Mar 18 2024The University of Queensland University of Queensland researchers have discovered how the 'on-switch' for the body's inflammation machinery can get stuck and cause rare genetic inflammatory diseases.
"The inflammasome protects us during infection by triggering an immune response, but it can also go wrong and cause uncontrolled inflammation and disease," Professor Schroder said. "In those patients, there are mutations that stick the inflammasome on/off switch in the 'on' position so it is always firing, causing inflammation driven by a mutation instead of an infection or wound.Professor Schroder said the body's NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in neurogenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and cancer and gout.
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