In autoimmune diseases, the immune response is impaired and T cells begin to attack healthy cells and tissues, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.
Our adaptive immune system creates a long-term “memory” so that the body knows how to fight any pathogen when we encounter it again. Th cells play a central role in this by releasing cytokines that activate other immune cells to fight invading pathogens. The study is about the Th17 cell, which increases the immune response and causes immune cells to accumulate in inflamed areas. However, when over-activated, they can attack healthy cells, leading to autoimmunity and the diseases described above.
A new study explores the role Th17 cells play in autoimmune diseases. The researchers started by looking at glycolysis, the metabolic process that converts glucose into energy for power cells and is also responsible for making Th17 cells. Excessive glycolysis inhibits the activity of Th17 cells. “We therefore hypothesized that molecules formed during glycolysis were able to suppress these cells,” the authors write.
Glycolysis produces a byproduct called PEP. Researchers have found that adding extra PEP to cells prevents Th17 cells from maturing, thereby reducing the body’s inflammatory response. After the researchers tested their results in mice with the autoimmune brain disease, they found that daily administration of PEP stopped the production of Th17 cells and reduced the Th17-dependent autoimmune response.
But we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
