London : Scientists have identified a Pac-Man like protein which causes cells to eat their dying neighbours, helping to prevent inflammation that can lead to cancer, a finding that may find new therapies to combat the disease.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the UK discovered the Rac1 protein switches cell function and causes cells to respond to ‘eat me’ signals omitted from their dying neighbouring cells and clears them away efficiently to minimise damaging inflammation, according to PTI.
The team, led by Nasreen Akhtar from the University’s Department of Oncology and Metabolism, made the breakthrough while studying the female breast to better understand how the organ gets rid of dead cells and surplus milk when it is no longer required.
In pregnancy, specialized epithelial cells within the breast grow to form alveoli that secrete milk.
When the milk supply is no longer required the alveoli die and the breast reverts back to a non-pregnancy state. Breast epithelia also line the mammary ducts which transport milk towards the nipple when required.
Through gene deletion studies, researchers found the Rac1 protein is crucial both for the secretion of milk and its removal in the drying-up period that follows.
Inflammatory phagocytes from the immune system are normally recruited to clear up dead cells lurking in tissues and surplus fluids.
