New therapeutic target to treat inflammation

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have identified tiny organelles called primary cilia as a target for anti-inflammation therapy. “Although primary cilia were discovered more than a century ago, we’re only beginning to realize the importance they play in different diseases and conditions, and the potential therapeutic benefits that could be developed from manipulating cilia structure and function,” Martin Knight, who led the research, said. To investigate the role of primary cilia in inflammation, the team of scientists exposed cartilage cells to an inflammatory protein called interleukin-1 (IL-1). What they found was that after just three hours of exposure to IL-1, the primary cilia increase in length by 50 percent. When this elongation of the cilium was treated, the inflammation of the cartilage cells was reduced, suggesting the potential for a new therapeutic target.