Chronic inflammation is a long-lasting, harmful reaction from the body’s immune system. Unlike the short-term inflammation that helps heal injuries or fight infections, chronic inflammation can do more harm than good.
Over time, it damages tissues and organs and increases the risk of serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, cancer, and more.
This kind of inflammation often comes from aging, long-term stress, or exposure to pollution and other harmful substances in the environment. These factors cause the immune system to stay on high alert, even when there is no real threat. As a result, the body starts to attack its own healthy cells.
Now, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have made a breakthrough that could lead to new ways to treat or even reverse these diseases. The study, led by Professor Danica Chen and published in Cell Metabolism, identified a “switch” in the immune system that controls chronic inflammation.
At the center of the discovery is a group of immune proteins known as the NLRP3 inflammasome. These proteins act like security guards, detecting danger and triggering inflammation to protect the body. But when the NLRP3 inflammasome becomes overactive, it doesn’t turn off properly and keeps producing inflammation. This can lead to serious diseases over time.
The researchers discovered that the NLRP3 inflammasome can be turned off through a process called deacetylation. This is a natural change at the molecular level, where a small part of the protein is removed. The removal is controlled by a protein called SIRT2. When SIRT2 removes the fragment, the inflammasome is deactivated, stopping unnecessary inflammation.
To understand how important this is, the scientists tested it in mice. They found that mice lacking the SIRT2 protein showed more signs of inflammation as they aged.
By the age of two—which is old for a mouse—they had more severe inflammation and higher levels of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a warning sign for type 2 diabetes and other metabolic problems.
In another part of the study, the team replaced the immune systems of older mice with new ones made from blood stem cells. These cells were specially designed to produce either the active or inactive version of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
The mice that received the inactive version showed improved insulin sensitivity after just six weeks, meaning their bodies were better at handling sugar in the blood.
This suggests that switching off the inflammasome could not only prevent harmful inflammation but might also reverse diseases related to aging and metabolism.
The potential impact of this discovery is huge. If scientists can develop drugs that safely control this molecular switch, they might be able to treat a wide range of conditions caused by chronic inflammation. This includes diseases that currently have no cure or are very hard to manage.
It also raises important questions about when to start treatment for age-related diseases. In the case of Alzheimer’s, many recent drug trials have failed, possibly because they started too late. If chronic inflammation is a driving force behind the disease, treating it earlier could make a big difference.
The study encourages doctors and researchers to pay more attention to inflammation—not just as a symptom, but as a cause of disease. It also reminds us that what we eat and how we live affects how our immune systems behave.
Other research has shown that common U.S. food oils may change genes in the brain, and that some compounds in cannabis might protect brain health. Some trendy diets may even harm bone health.
In short, the way we treat our bodies—through food, stress, and lifestyle—plays a powerful role in how we age and whether we develop chronic diseases. This new discovery gives hope that by learning how to “switch off” the bad parts of our immune response, we may one day be able to live longer and healthier lives.
If you care about inflammation, please read studies about turmeric: nature’s golden answer to inflammation, and what to eat to reduce chronic Inflammation.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how a plant-based diet could help ease inflammation ,and Vitamin D deficiency linked to increased inflammation.
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