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Protein Responsible for Inflammation in Obesity

In obesity, a protein called eIF5A is responsible for driving inflammation in macrophage cells, according to researchers at the University of Chicago and Indiana University.

From a study in Cell Metabolism in mice, blocking DHPS—the enzyme that modifies and activates eIF5A led to a reduction in inflammation and improved glucose control, according to an article from the University of Chicago.

Mice that were fed a high fat diet had an increase in the expression of DHPS and the activated form of eIF5A. Increased expression of eIF5AHyp led to an increase in the number of inflammatory macrophages, according to the article.

“DHPS deficiency in myeloid cells of obese mice suppressed M1 macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue and improved glucose tolerance. These findings indicate that DHPS promotes the post-transcriptional regulation of a subset of mRNAs governing inflammation and chemotaxis in macrophages and contributes to a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype,” the researchers wrote.


By MD /alert Staff

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