In
a new report, researchers describe how inflammation can go unchecked in the
absence of a certain inhibitor called NLRP12, adding that beneficial bacteria
may be the key to helping to reverse a cycle of gut inflammation seen in
certain inflammatory bowel diseases.
In
a new study, scientists describe how inflammation can go unchecked in the
absence of a certain inflammation inhibitor called NLRP12. In a harmful
feedback loop, this inflammation can upset the balance of bacteria living in
the gut -- part of the community of micro-organisms in the human body known as
the microbiome. They found in preclinical models that certain types of
"bad" bacteria were more abundant, while there were lower levels of
beneficial bugs in the absence of NLRP12. That led to even more inflammation in
their models.
But
researchers found that adding back a type of beneficial bacteria that normally
grows in the gut can help end this cycle, suggesting a new treatment for
inflammatory bowel disease.
NLRP12
has been known to suppress inflammatory signals to prevent an overactive immune
response. But an analysis uncovered low levels of NLRP12 in twins with
ulcerative colitis, but not in paired twins without the disease. And in mouse
models that lacked this protein, they found higher levels of inflammation in
the colon.
In
the absence of this protein, they also saw changes in the types of bacteria
living in the gut -- suggesting a role for the protein in keeping the
microbiome in balance to prevent inflammation.
For
further details see:
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle