The finding of the enzyme neutrophil serine protease 4, or NSP4 is a huge step forward for anti-inflammatory drugs. The above picture shows the NSP4 stained in bone marrow myeloblast and myelocytes. This enzyme could help with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic arthritis or inflammatory skin diseases. The neutrophil serine protease are enzymes that activate signal molecules that guide other immune cells to destroy pathogens on focus inflammation areas. The NSP4 is different from the other three that are known because it cuts proteins with the amino acid arginine. This was found while looking through the human genome for genes that encode serine protease and was noticed becuase it was an unknown gene sequence. Though this a huge find, it will be some time till there is anything done with it because there needs to be test done to see what the long term effects of its use will be on the body.
If this process indeed works then it will help so many people with those diseases.
ReplyDeleteAlthough break throughs in medicine are always beneficial in someway, I feel as though science sometimes out does itself by trying to find more and more cures for one disease. However, on the other hand if they did actually find an enzyme that works more efficiently with slim or no long term effects people with those diseases could have a chance to life a more happy and comfortable life.
ReplyDelete