Cooperative proteins help the immune system identify and attack invaders
At the front line of the human immune response are cells called macrophages, which are responsible for identifying intruders and then directing how the entire immune system responds. Associate Professor Diana Hargreaves, postdoctoral researcher Jingwen Liao, and colleagues have now discovered a molecular mechanism that helps macrophages mount a coordinated response tailored to a specific immune challenge. Activating macrophages requires the work of three versions of a protein complex called SWI/SNF: cBAF, ncBAF, and PBAF. The researchers discovered that each variant plays a distinct role in initiating macrophages’ responses to intruders and, consequently, how the immune system regulates inflammation. By delineating these SWI/SNF variants, the team has revealed new immune system mechanisms that could be targeted with therapeutics to regulate inflammation associated with conditions like sepsis, cytokine storm, COVID-19, and many more.
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