Scientists have learned the details of the mechanism that protects the body’s tissues from attacks by its own immune system. The results were published in the journal Nature.
The immune system requires precise regulation to prevent it from accidentally attacking the body’s own tissues. Otherwise, autoimmune disorders develop, which currently affect approximately 10% of the world’s population.
One of the central components of immunity is the CGAS enzyme, which triggers the immune response when foreign DNA is detected. In a new study, scientists showed that a special protein complex, CRL5-SSPSB3, marks the CGAS enzyme during cell division (mitosis). This is necessary to destroy CGAS after completing the activation of the immune response. Scientists visualized the interaction between two molecules at the atomic level. If this contact is disrupted, the immune system begins to attack healthy cells, that is, autoimmune disease.
The research could form the basis of new strategies to treat autoimmune diseases as well as immune deficiencies in chronic infections or cancer. For example, drugs that target the activity of CGAs may increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy or prevent the development of autoimmune conditions.
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