Chronic inflammation happens when the body’s immune system stays active for too long. Instead of helping the body heal, this long-term response can cause damage and lead to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and cancer.
This type of inflammation often comes from aging, stress, or harmful substances in the environment, which keep the immune system on high alert.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have made a big discovery that could help stop this harmful process. In a study led by Danica Chen, the team found a tiny “switch” inside cells that controls how the immune system responds. Their work was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
The study focused on a part of the immune system called the NLRP3 inflammasome. This group of proteins helps detect threats like infections or injuries. When a threat is found, it triggers inflammation to protect the body.
But when the inflammasome becomes too active, it can cause harmful inflammation that doesn’t go away. This has been linked to many diseases, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, diabetes, and dementia.
The researchers found that the NLRP3 inflammasome can be shut down using a process called deacetylation. This is when a small piece is removed from the protein, turning it off. A protein called SIRT2 carries out this task. When SIRT2 removes the piece, it stops the inflammasome from creating more inflammation.
To see how this worked, scientists tested it in mice. Mice that were missing the SIRT2 protein had more inflammation as they aged. By the time they were two years old, these mice had more signs of inflammation and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes and other health problems.
In another part of the study, older mice were given stem cells that either had an active or inactive version of the inflammasome. The mice that received the inactive version—where the inflammasome was switched off—had much better insulin levels after six weeks. This means that turning off the inflammasome helped improve their health.
These findings are exciting because they suggest we might be able to treat or even reverse diseases caused by inflammation. If scientists can develop medicines that target the deacetylation process, they could create new ways to fight aging-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
This research also gives us clues about why some treatments for Alzheimer’s disease haven’t worked. Many treatments are given after the disease has already caused damage. But if doctors can step in earlier and stop inflammation before it causes too much harm, the chances of success might be much higher.
Understanding chronic inflammation and how to control it could help people live healthier, longer lives. This study shows that keeping the immune system in balance is key to preventing damage and disease as we age. It also reminds us how things like diet, stress, and environment can affect our health over time.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
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