Special topic in focus
In the scientific journal Cell Reports, the research team describes How did they come up with a way to suppress the immune system, so that it would not be difficult for them.
“The key to the emergence and prevention of these autoimmune diseases lies in our cells, but no one knew exactly the mechanisms behind them,” explains one of the researchers, Professor Hiroki Ishikawa, at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. (OIST). “However, with our latest research, we have opened our eyes to a substance that may be able to prevent the development of these autoimmune diseases.”
Inhibits own immune cells
They focused on a type of T helper cell (immune cell), which is called Th17 and is an essential part of the immune system. In order for the body to create Th17, glycolysis is required, a process in which glucose is broken down and converted into energy.
Not only Th17 cells, but also many other cells depend on glycolysis. The interesting thing is that if the process continues at a high pace, it appears to have the opposite effect and deactivate Th17 cells.
Stick in the wheel for cell maturation
Converted glucose itself forms a metabolite called phosphoenolpyruvate, or PEP. The Japanese researchers noted that in lab experiments, PEP prevented Th17 cell maturation and dampened the inflammatory response, but there were still loose ends, so they went in search of the missing explanation.
When they examined the process more closely, they discovered that PEP inhibits the JunB protein, which binds to certain genes and thus promotes maturation of Th17 cells. In other words, PEP treatment inhibited the maturation of Th17 cells by blocking this protein.
Promising results with mice
Next, the researchers tested the PEP treatment on mice with a type of autoimmune neuritis, which is very similar to MS. There were clear signs of improvement in the PEP-treated mice. For example, they experienced significantly less inflammation.
While previous research has focused on inhibiting glycolysis to reduce Th17 cells, PEP treatment has no limited effect on glycolysis and thus does not extend beyond cells favored by glucose conversion. PEP therapy acts directly on the JunB protein and the researchers show that it could potentially be used as a selective treatment against autoimmune diseases without the risk of side effects.
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