Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the United States have identified a genetic mechanism that helps the immune system coexist with beneficial gut bacteria and limits inflammation caused by inappropriate immune responses.
The hospital stated in a statement published on its website yesterday, Wednesday, that the study led by Yongqiang Feng from the Department of Immunology and published in the journal "Science Advances" identified the role of the "Wdr82" gene in enabling a type of immune cell known as "regulatory T cells" to suppress excessive immune responses against gut bacteria.
It noted that the "Wdr82" gene plays a fundamental role in supporting the function of these cells by participating in the activity of a protein complex called "COMPASS," which contributes to regulating gene activity within cells. Experiments conducted on mouse models showed that disabling this gene in T cells resulted in regulatory cells losing their ability to control immune responses, causing severe intestinal inflammation, with effects extending to a lesser degree to the heart and lungs.
The researchers added that the findings reveal an important mechanism for maintaining balance between the immune system and beneficial bacteria, potentially deepening the understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases, food allergies, and some autoimmune disorders. However, developing therapeutic applications based on these findings requires further studies. Experiments showed that introducing healthy regulatory T cells helped reverse the disease course and reduce its complications.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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