Could this protein lead to new treatment options?
Autoimmune research continues to discover new targets for treatments that can help patients manage their diseases. A new study by Swansea University in Wales found a protein that regulates energy production in immune cells and could be a target for new treatments.
Within the body, T-cells are responsible for defending the body against infections, causing changes in their metabolism—the ability to process fuels like sugar and protein—to help carry out the immune response. However, these changes can go awry in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, leading the T-cells to harm the body rather than protect it.
Researchers at Swansea University found a new protein in the mitochondria, called ABHD11, that plays an important role in regulating T-cell overactivity. By using the blood of individuals diagnosed with and without rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes, scientists have found that using a drug that blocks the ABHD11 protein from working decreases T-cell overactivity. This, in turn, limits their inflammatory signal production, ultimately reducing inflammation in the body. The scientists also found that by blocking the protein, they also delayed the development of type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Nick Jones from Swansea University explained that there is growing evidence that "adjusting immune cell metabolism could offer a safe and more effective approach" when it comes to treatment options. Although these discoveries could lead to the development of new treatments focused on controlling autoimmune diseases by preventing flare-ups and reducing inflammation, more research needs to be done to see how targeting the ABHD11 protein could affect other immune cell types.
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