Fumarate Hydratase

Why in news?

• Scientists have found that an enzyme called Fumarate Hydratase is repressed in macrophages, a frontline inflammatory cell type implicated in a range of diseases including Lupus, Arthritis, Sepsis and Covid-19.
• They have made an important link between Fumarate Hydratase and immune proteins called cytokines that mediate inflammatory diseases.
• The research revealed that when Fumarate Hydratase is repressed, RNA is released from mitochondria which can bind to key proteins ‘MDA5’ and ‘TLR7’ and trigger the release of cytokines, thereby worsening inflammation.

What are cytokines?

• Cytokines are signalling proteins that are released by cells at local high concentrations.
• The role of cytokines is to facilitate the regulation of the immune response in the body.

What is Lupus?

• Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system starts attacking your own tissues and organs.
• The condition primarily affects the kidney, but it also has an impact on the skin, blood vessels, connective tissue, heart, brain, and nearly every other organ.
• It is treated by immunosuppression via drugs such as mycophenolate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab
• The SLEDAI disease activity index is used for the prognosis of this disease.

Q1) What is immunity and its types?

Immunity is your body’s ability to recognize germs to prevent them from causing illness. The immune system’s job is to help identify and eliminate dangerous germs that enter the body before they can cause disease or damage. There are two types of immunity: innate and adaptive.

Source: Potential new therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases such as lupus, sepsis