A groundbreaking finding that sheds light on the movement of white blood cells within the body has the potential to lead to novel therapies for diseases related to chronic inflammation, such as cardiovascular diseases, according to a new study by the Centenary Institute.
The research, published in Circulation Research, delved into the behavior of neutrophils, a variety of white blood cell crucial to the immune system.
Neutrophils, the immune system’s first line of defense against injury or infection, migrate from blood vessels to the affected area to initiate inflammation and promote healing. However, when neutrophils linger at the site of vascular damage, it can lead to chronic inflammation and the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Dr. Joyce Chiu, the study’s lead author from the ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Center, explained that their research has identified the process by which neutrophils detach from blood vessels as they journey to the injury site. This newly discovered mechanism could potentially be utilized to decrease chronic inflammation by inhibiting neutrophil migration to specific areas within the body.
Integrin molecules are known to aid neutrophils in adhering to blood vessel walls, preventing the cells from being swept away by blood flow. Neutrophils must attach and detach from these walls in order to travel to the site of injury. While the mechanism for attachment was understood, the detachment process remained unclear, according to Dr. Chiu.
Dr. Chiu revealed that their study found a vital role for a molecule called protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which is secreted by neutrophils. This molecule assists the cells in detaching from blood vessel walls as they journey towards the injury site.
According to Dr. Chiu, the discovery indicates that PDI might hold potential as a therapeutic target for treating chronic inflammation in various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases.
“New drugs can be designed to inhibit PDI, to keep neutrophils from ‘unsticking’ and migrating from blood vessel walls,” points out Dr. Chiu, noting, “Preventing neutrophils from moving around can help prevent chronic inflammation by reducing their ability to accumulate at sites of injury or infection.”
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