Jefferson scientists uncover key pathway, potential drug targets in autoinflammato...(example there is a synthetic analog of t...),Health

He explains that IL-1 beta binds to a receptor on the cell membrane that induces the inflammatory phenotype. Anakinra mimics IL-1 beta and binds to the same receptor, preventing IL-1 beta from binding and consequently blocking its effects on cells. Detailing these mechanisms is not only important for autoinflammatory disease, but for most inflammatory disease in general.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to the development of cancer, Dr. Alnemri points out. IL-1 beta appears to play a major role in tumor growth. Elevated concentrations of IL-1 beta have been found in aggressive forms of colon, breast and lung cancers. Its not clear how IL-1 beta promotes cancer growth, but the data suggest that in addition to its ability to stimulate production of inflammatory factors, it also stimulates cells to produce angiogenic factors to enhance angiogenesis, or the development of tumor-growth promoting blood vessels.

Dr. Alnemri adds that IL-1 beta antagonists are being tested against cancer in animal models with notable success, so you might actually be able to treat some forms of cancer by targeting proteins upstream in the inflammatory pathways, such as caspase-1, pyrin or PSTPIP1 to stop the generation of IL-1 beta.

The team plans next to investigate the role of inflammation in cancer. The researchers would like to study the potential involvement of the inflammatory pathways that they have identified, and whether anti-inflammatory agents that could affect such pathways can also affect cancer.

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