Scientists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine discovered that they can block inflammation in mice with a naturally occurring antibody that binds oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) molecules on cell surfaces that get modified by inflammation. Even while on a high-fat diet, the antibody protected the mice from arterial plaque formation, hardening of the arteries and liver disease, and prolonged their lives. The study (“ Oxidized phospholipids are proinflammatory and proatherogenic in hypercholesterolaemic mice ”), published in Nature , marks the first demonstration in a living system that OxPL triggers inflammation and leads to plaque formation, according to the researchers, who add that the results also suggest a new approach for preventing or reversing a number of inflammatory diseases. “Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) are ubiquitous, are formed in many inflammatory tissues, including atherosclerotic lesions, and frequently mediate proinflammatory changes. Because OxPL are mostly the products of non-enzymatic lipid ...
Original Article: Antibody Offers New Approach to Treating Inflammatory Diseases