Scientists have uncovered a cellular mechanism that protects healthy tissue from inflammation and identified sex-specific gene activity in brain cells related to Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have identified a biological mechanism that serves as a protective shield for healthy cells during the body's inflammatory response. Findings from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) reveal that a chemical signal used to attract immune cells to infections also helps prevent those defenses from damaging healthy tissue.
The discovery, published October 7 in Nature, addresses a mystery dating back to 1992. Researchers at McGill University originally identified 5-oxoETE, a fatty signaling molecule that acts as a chemical alert to recruit immune cells. While the molecule attracts white blood cells to fight pathogens, the substances these cells release can damage surrounding healthy tissue.
Using zebrafish as a model because mice lack the necessary immune cell receptor to recognize 5-oxoETE, researchers identified the human gene DHRS7 as the producer of the enzyme responsible for this signaling. While researchers expected disabling this pathway to reduce inflammation, they found that removing the signal or its receptor actually increased inflammation in zebrafish.
"As it turns out, this signal isn't just an alarm, it's also a shield," Dr. Philipp Niethammer says. The pathway helps tissues withstand chemical stress by utilizing NUDIX hydrolases to remove damaged DNA building blocks. This mechanism could potentially be used to increase the resilience of the gut to oxidative stress caused by radiation or chemotherapy.
In a separate study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026, researchers identified sex-specific differences in gene activity within brain support cells that may explain why men are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than women to develop Parkinson's disease.
Professor Julia Schulze-Hentrich of Saarland University led the research, which examined brain tissue from 73 people with Parkinson's and 24 without. The study found that while Parkinson's causes shared stress responses in both sexes, distinct patterns exist in glial cells:
"Our findings help to explain why symptoms and disease progression in Parkinson’s differ between men and women," Prof. Schulze-Hentrich said. The research suggests that analyzing data separately by sex may lead to more personalized treatments and help identify gaps in current evidence.
These discoveries provide new perspectives on how the body manages stress and disease:
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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