RESEARCH - When the body attacks itself: PLA2

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When the Body Attacks Itself

ScienceDaily (Mar. 28, 2011) — Many chronic diseases are the result of

the body's immune system mistakenly perceiving that the body is under

attack from foreign bodies. A counterattack is then launched -- an

inflammatory response meant to vanquish the intruder. In reality, the

immune system has misinterpreted the threat and is actually attacking

the body's own cells and tissue.

Unless this situation is rectified, an inflammation can become chronic

and eventually lead to psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or a number of

other inflammatory conditions. Professor Berit Johansen and her

research colleagues at the Norwegian University of Science and

Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim have discovered one of the culprits in

this process -- the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

" This is the enzyme that triggers the inflammatory response, " explains

Professor Johansen. " We are currently conducting research on various

molecules that we believe could arrest PLA2 activity, thus stopping

the inflammatory response. "

Professor Johansen and her colleagues have received funding from the

Research Council of Norway's programmes Functional Genomics (FUGE) and

User-driven Research-based Innovation (BIA).

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Read the full article here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110324104412.htm

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