Gdf3 Promotes Adipose Tissue Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation Via Altered Chromatin Accessibility During Aging
As we age, our bodies often experience increased inflammation, which can contribute to various health issues. A recent study sheds light on a key mechanism behind this age-related inflammation, particularly in our fat tissue. Researchers found that a specific protein, called GDF3, becomes more abundant in immune cells residing in fat tissue as we get older. This increase in GDF3 acts like a signal, activating a pathway involving other proteins known as SMAD2/3. This activation then leads to changes in how our cells access their DNA, specifically making certain genes associated with inflammation more available to be turned on. Essentially, GDF3 pushes these fat tissue immune cells, called macrophages, into a pro-inflammatory state. The good news is that when scientists blocked GDF3 or its signaling pathway in aged mice, they observed a significant reduction in inflammation and improved outcomes during inflammatory challenges. This suggests that targeting the GDF3-SMAD2/3 pathway could be a promising strategy to develop new treatments for mitigating age-associated inflammation and its related health problems.
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