Inflammation
Study links GDF3 signaling in aging macrophages to heightened inflammation and worse outcomes in infection models
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University of Minnesota researchers report that older mice’s macrophages can become locked in an inflammatory state through an autocrine signaling loop involving the protein GDF3 and the transcription factors SMAD2/3. In experiments, genetic deletion of Gdf3 or drugs that interfered with the pathway reduced inflammatory responses and improved survival in older endotoxemia models, while human cohort data linked higher GDF3 levels with markers of inflammation.
An international team of researchers has identified trimethylamine (TMA), a gut microbe metabolite produced from dietary nutrients such as choline, as a compound that inhibits the immune-signalling protein IRAK4, dampening inflammation and improving insulin action in experimental models. The discovery, reported in Nature Metabolism, suggests a potential new way to counter some of the harmful metabolic effects of high-fat diets and opens avenues for future type 2 diabetes therapies, a disease affecting more than 500 million people worldwide.
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A new study in mice reveals that tattoo ink can lead to chronic inflammation in lymph nodes, potentially altering immune responses for life. Human samples show similar effects years after tattooing. Researchers urge more investigation into health risks.