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ShareApr. 15, 2010 — Particular components of inflammasomes -- protein complexes needed for generating immune responses to pathogens and cellular damage -- lessen the severity of colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer in mice, according to a study published online this week in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Compared to healthy humans, patients with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. As the inflammasome is typically associated with activation of the immune system, Jenny Ting and co-workers suspected that mice lacking inflammasome components would be more resistant to colitis and associated colorectal cancer.
Unexpectedly, mice lacking some but not all inflammasome components developed more severe colitis and larger tumor burdens in the colon.
Additional work is needed to determine how specific inflammasome components protect against colitis in mice, and whether inflammasomes play similar roles in humans.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rockefeller University Press, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Irving C. Allen, Erin Mcelvania Tekippe, Rita-Marie T. Woodford, Joshua M. Uronis, Eda K. Holl, Arlin B. Rogers, Hans H. Herfarth, Christian Jobin, and Jenny P.-Y. Ting. The NLRP3 inflammasome functions as a negative regulator of tumorigenesis during colitis-associated cancer. J Exp Med, April 12, 2010 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20100050
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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