Putting the brakes on inflammation.

• Position: Immune System - Brief article

A previously unknown mechanism that prevents the immune system from going into overdrive has been discovered, shedding light not only on how our body controls its response to pathogens but on conditions such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and chronic inflammation, according to a study published in Immunity.

A protein previously believed to play a role solely in blood clotting acts as a negative feedback signal, telling defense cells to calm down, thereby preventing an immune reaction from spiraling out of control. The results of this research could lead to new therapeutics for a variety of disorders caused by a faulty immune response.

When pathogens such as viruses or bacteria invade our body, the immune system reacts by producing a flurry of chemical signals, known as chemokines, that act as a bugle call recruiting specialized defender cells to the scene, such as macrophages...