Cells in the body have to protect themselves, via the immune system and special proteins looking for defects. Scientists in Germany have shown that the two processes are linked by a shared protein. The protein Rad50 is responsible for detecting defected DNA sites, but it is now known that Rad50 has another important task. The researchers showed that Rad50 will bind to viral DNA attempting to infect the cell and mark it; and then will interact with CARD9, a protein in the immune system, creating a complex. This complex allowed for the creation of
interleukin 1β, which is responsible for the onset of a fever. Scientist Jürgen Ruland noted that "now that we know that Rad50 and CARD9 are important triggers for the alarm system IL-1β production, we can gain a better understanding of many immune responses and develop strategies to influence them therapeutically."
NOS Themes:
Science is based on evidence - The research team conducted experiments that confirmed that the Rad50-CARD9 complex was involved in activating the alarm system.
Science is cooperative - Scientists from several different labs worked together on this experiment.
Full article here.
I wonder if we could potentially isolate interleukin 1β, and use it as some form of treatment for hypothermia. Athletes hoping to get warm before a game could also use it to work up a sweat before a game or a race, if you're a track athlete. Interleukin 1β may have other potential uses as well. If anyone else thinks of any, respond to this comment.
ReplyDeleteIt would be very interesting if we could use this research for important purposes such as heating people who have hypothermia or to burn up bacteria or viruses. It will be interesting to see if scientists find new purposes for this.
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