Australia targets key protein to fight inflammatory diseases

For the first time, researchers have identified key molecules within the immune system that may help fight the inflammation that drives chronic diseases including cancers, sepsis and brain disease. The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia collaborated with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur on the study. A key protein, known as C5aR2, is a potential therapeutic target for treating chronic disease, due to its ability to moderate many immune and inflammatory processes. The researchers found key and specific cell signals present when the C5aR2 was activated, which may act to boost the immune system’s response in inflammation. They are now working to progress these research findings into disease models and potentially enable scientists to design novel drug molecules targeting C5aR2 to treat inflammatory disorders.