Researchers discover new way to stop excessive inflammation

RCSI researchers have discovered a new way to inhibit excessive inflammation by regulating a type of white blood cell that is critical to our immune system.

The discovery could protect the body from uncontrolled damage caused by inflammatory diseases.

The paper, led by researchers from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, is published in Nature communication.

When immune cells (white blood cells) in our body, called macrophages, are exposed to highly infectious agents, powerful inflammatory proteins known as cytokines are produced to fight the invasive infection. However, if these cytokine levels get out of control, significant tissue damage can occur.

The researchers found that a protein called Arginase-2 works through the energy source of macrophage cells, known as mitochondria, to limit inflammation. Specifically, they showed for the first time that Arginase-2 is critical for reducing a potent inflammatory cytokine called IL-1.

This discovery could enable researchers to develop new treatments that target the Arginase-2 protein and protect the body from uncontrolled damage caused by inflammatory diseases.

“Excessive inflammation is a prominent feature of many diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Through our discovery, we may be able to develop new treatments for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and ultimately improve the quality of life for people with these diseases,” says senior author on the paper Dr. Claire McCoy, senior lecturer in immunology at RCSI.

The study was led by researchers at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI (Dr. Claire McCoy, Dr. Jennifer Dowling and Ms. Remsha Afzal) in collaboration with a network of international researchers from Australia, Germany and Switzerland.

The research was funded by the Science Foundation Ireland, with the initial stages of the research following a grant from the National Health Medical Research Council, Australia.

Provided by RCSI