Scientists solve 30-year-old mystery and discover a hidden defense against inflammation

Key Points:

• Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center identified the human gene DHRS7 responsible for producing a long-mysterious enzyme involved in 5-oxoETE signaling, resolving a scientific mystery dating back to 1992.
• Using zebrafish instead of mice, due to mice lacking the necessary receptor for 5-oxoETE, the team discovered that the signaling pathway not only attracts immune cells to fight infection but also protects healthy cells from inflammatory damage.
• Disabling the 5-oxoETE receptor or the DHRS7 gene unexpectedly increased inflammation in zebrafish intestines, revealing the pathway’s dual role as both an alarm and a protective shield against tissue damage.
• The findings have significant implications for diseases like cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma, suggesting that enhancing this pathway could help protect tissues during inflammation and improve resilience to oxidative stress from treatments.
• The study also links mechanical stress from physical injury to activation of this protective signaling pathway, showing how the body integrates different stress signals to coordinate immune responses and limit harm to healthy cells.