Inflammation Linked to Faulty Receptor

The study was reported in the April 5, 2002, issue of Science.

The CD44 receptor, which is present on some types of white blood cells, binds sugar-containing molecules such as hyaluronan (HA) and helps regulate the response of injured tissue to inflammation. In the study, animals lacking CD44 receptors did not recover from lung injury, eventually dying, while normal mice recovered in about two weeks. Senior author Dr. Paul Noble, of the US Veterans Affairs Connecticut Health Care System (VA, West Haven, USA), said these findings will help researchers better understand why persistent inflammation occurs and how to develop a better understanding of the body's healing process.

"This is helping us understand some of the basic healing mechanisms and what circumstances promote inflammation where more common causes like infection just are not present,” said Dr. Noble.

Inhaling dust, smoke or other airborne pollutants can injure lung tissue. Should inflammation occur, lung tissue chemically signals blood cells carrying CD44 receptors that repair is needed. Without CD44 to mediate the clean-up of the cellular waste that occurs in injury and healing, irritation may intensify rather than subside. The investigators hope to show that faulty CD44 receptors are linked to cases of persistent inflammation and slow healing. "If we can understand these mechanisms then we can potentially interrupt them at various stages,” said Dr. Noble.



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