The compounds are called alpha defensins and they serve as a defense mechanism against infection. They help to stop bacteria and infectious agents from reproducing inside the body. This new study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom reveals the process by which these compounds also work against inflammation.
The alpha defensins are released by neutrophils and are then picked up by other immune cells called macrophages. Researchers found that the compounds prevent macrophages from producing messenger molecules called cytokines, which drive inflammation.
Researchers think the new understandings presented in the study could lead to therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases that could prevent flare-ups of swelling in the joints before they begin.
Mohini Gray, PhD, of Edinburgh University’s MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, said, “This discovery opens the door to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of chronic inflammation. We are hopeful that with further research, these treatments could be exploited in the near future.”
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