SAN FRANCISCO, -- U.S. scientists say a key factor in
development of brain inflammation may provide a new
target for inflammatory diseases of the central nervous
system. In separate studies, Nico Ghilardi of Genentech
Inc. in San Francisco and Christopher Hunter of the
University of Pennsylvania studied different mouse models
of brain inflammation that resemble human diseases, such
as multiple sclerosis. Both studies show brain inflammation
is worse in mice that cannot respond to interleukin 27, a
factor that communicates messages to immune cells. Such
increased brain inflammation is associated with an influx
of T cells that produce a molecule known to promote inflam-
mation -- interleukin 17 -- into the brain. The researchers
found treatment of T cells with interleukin 27 blocks the
development of cells that produce interleukin 17. Therefore,
the scientists posit preventing harmful interleukin 17-
producing cells from developing, interleukin 27 could
represent a potential therapeutic target for treating auto-
immune diseases. The study appears in the journal Nature
Immunology.
Krissy Zodda
Tri State Support Group Leader
(603)589-1894
http://www.geocities.com/tmladyk/home.html
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