Breaking research discovers how macrophages turn mitochondria into toxic chemical-producing inflammation-promoters.
Macrophages (meaning "big eaters") are a type of white blood cell that engulf and digest cellular debris and foreign substances. These biological dustbins maraud within and between cells throughout the body, destroying pathogens as they roam.
Alongside their taste for microbes and other invaders, they play a substantial role in orchestrating the immune response. Macrophages stimulate the immune system and help to call it to action when necessary.
As part of this role, macrophages are known to promote inflammation. However, once the time has come for the inflammation response to stop, they switch roles, suppressing inflammation and busying themselves with repairing damaged tissue.
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The investigators found that during the initial phase of the macrophage response, the cells alter the activity of mitochondria....
During inflammation, macrophages were found to halt mitochondria's production of energy and switch them to producing toxic compounds that further amplify inflammation.
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"Mitochondria are well known as the key energy generators in our cells, but we found that during inflammation they switch from that role to instead making toxic products from oxygen using an enzyme called succinate dehydrogenase, which promotes inflammation."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313090.php