Protein produced by the nervous system may help treatments for
inflammatory diseases

Date:
August 17, 2020
Source:
Rutgers University
Summary:
Researchers have discovered a protein produced by nervous system
may be key to treating inflammatory diseases like asthma, allergies,
chronic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A Rutgers-led team may have found the key to treating inflammatory
diseases like asthma, allergies, chronic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


==========================================================================
In a study published in the journal Nature Immunology, researchers
discovered that neuromedin B (NMB), a protein produced by the nervous
system, was responsible for preventing overactive immune responses and
damaging inflammation. An immune response refers to the body's ability
to recognize and defend itself against harmful substances. Although
beneficial to help clear infections, an immune response can also promote damaging inflammation if not properly restricted. The researchers found
that the NMB protein can stop the type of inflammation that that occurs
in diseases like asthma, allergies, chronic fibrosis and COPD.

"For many years, the mechanism through which the body shuts down an inflammatory response to heal itself after worm infections remained
poorly understood," said Mark C. Siracusa, lead author and an assistant professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. "Our study provided
that understanding and a hope for possible treatments using NMB,
which has great potential to treat inflammatory diseases like asthma,
allergies and COPD." COPD is the third most common cause of death among inflammatory diseases and allergies the sixth in the United States.

"Scientists previously thought the immune system was capable of regulating itself in order to resolve inflammation to prevent tissue damage. However, emerging work is beginning to reveal that complex interactions between
the immune system and the nervous system serve to restrict inflammation
and promote health," said Siracusa.

A patent cooperation treaty (PCT) patent application was filed by Rutgers Office of Research Commercialization. The next steps for researchers
include developing drugs using the protein to treat diseases like asthma,
COPD, and allergies.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Rutgers_University. Original written
by Modesta (Maud) Alobawone. Note: Content may be edited for style
and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Juan M. Inclan-Rico, John J. Ponessa, Nuriban Valero-Pacheco,
Christina
M. Hernandez, Chandler B. Sy, Alexander D. Lemenze, Aimee
M. Beaulieu, Mark C. Siracusa. Basophils prime group 2 innate
lymphoid cells for neuropeptide-mediated inhibition. Nature
Immunology, 2020; DOI: 10.1038/ s41590-020-0753-y ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200817150445.htm

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