A breakthrough blood cell discovery by Australian researchers could lead to treatments to reduce chronic inflammation in cardiovascular and other diseases.
The finding by Centenary Institute researchers in Sydney relates to how white blood cells called neutrophils detach from blood vessel walls to rush to sites of injury to initiate inflammation and healing.
But prolonged retention of these “first responder” immune system cells at sites of blood vessel injuries can result in chronic inflammation and a build-up of plaque on artery walls that can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
Dr Joyce Chiu, lead author of the study published in the journal Circulation Research, said her team had uncovered the method neutrophils used to unstick from blood vessels as they moved towards injury sites.
This mechanism could be potentially harnessed to reduce chronic inflammation by preventing the movement of neutrophils to certain areas of the body, she said.
Molecules known as integrins help neutrophils stick to the walls of blood vessels, to prevent the cells from being carried away by blood flow.
“To move to the site of injury, neutrophils must stick and unstick from blood vessel walls. While we knew how integrins helped neutrophils stick, we did not know how they unstick,” Dr Chiu said.
Her study discovered that a molecule called protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), secreted by neutrophils, plays a crucial role in helping the cells unstick from blood vessels.
Dr Chiu believes this finding suggests PDI could be a target for new drugs to treat chronic inflammation in diseases including cardiovascular diseases.
“New drugs can be designed to inhibit PDI, to keep neutrophils from ‘unsticking’ and migrating from blood vessel walls,” she said.
“Preventing neutrophils from moving around can help prevent chronic inflammation by reducing their ability to accumulate at sites of injury or infection.”
Dr Chiu said the research could pave the way for new treatments and management strategies to limit inflammation and potentially improve outcomes for individuals with chronic inflammatory and cardiovascular conditions.
The Centenary Institute, an independent medical research body affiliated with the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, is focused on cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
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