Blocking one enzyme could help treat many chronic disorders

Researchers have identified an enzyme that plays a key role in a biological mechanism common to many chronic inflammatory disorders. The discovery — which has been reported in a paper now published in the journal Nature — could lead to new drugs for treating diverse inflammation-related diseases, ranging from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's to osteoarthritis and cancer. The enzyme is called cytosine monophosphate kinase 2 (CMPK2) and it activates NLRP3, an inflammation-triggering molecule, or inflammasome. Scientists already knew that finding a way to block NLRP3 without affecting other inflammasomes could lead to new treatments for many inflammatory conditions. "Dysregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activity results in uncontrolled inflammation, which underlies many chronic diseases," note the authors. But without a clear understanding of the molecular pathways involved in triggering NLRP3, it was not possible to design drugs that specifically block it.