Engineered Cells Act to Reduce Inflammation in Controlled Way

A few days ago, I noted a use of CRISPR to suppress chronic inflammation via epigenetic alterations that interfere with the signaling that promotes the inflammatory response. Here I'll point out a different, arguably more sophisticated approach to achieving the same end, also using CRISPR to achieve the necessary genetic edits, but in this case turning stem cells into regulators that damp down inflammatory signaling only when required. Rising levels of inflammation in aging are a contributing factor that speeds progression of most of the common age-related conditions. Finding ways to suppress this inflammation without further damaging the diminished immune response should prove to be broadly beneficial, though not as desirable an end goal as repairing the immune system as a whole, restoring its balanced and youthful function. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis are characterized by dysregulated responses to pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Pharmacologic anti-cytokine therapies are often effective at diminishing this inflammatory response, but due to the pleiotropic roles of TNF-α and IL-1 and their involvement in tissue homeostasis, the use of such therapies may have significant side effects, including increased susceptibility to infection as well as to autoimmune diseases. Moreover, excess inhibition of these cytokines can interfere with tissue regeneration and repair. Therefore, methods to d...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs