🦠When our body’s defenders turn against us
Our immune system is designed to protect us - but sometimes, in the heat of battle, it can go too far. A new study led by researchers at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research has shown how a molecule called interferon lambda 3 (IFN-λ3), usually a front-line defender against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, can actually exacerbate inflammation when produced in excess.
Why does this matter? Because during infections like COVID-19, these runaway responses may worsen disease. The study found that IFN-λ3 amplifies inflammatory signals in macrophages, key immune cells that should protect us — and this may help explain why some people experience severe illness while others don’t.
🔎 By better understanding these mechanisms, we can start asking the right questions:
How do we balance antiviral protection with avoiding harmful inflammation?
Could targeting IFN-λ3 be a pathway to new therapies for chronic or severe infections?
At PrecisionGo and across Westmead, we’re proud to see this kind of research moving us closer to treatments that are not only effective, but safe for the body in the long run. We’re very proud of the team, led by Prof Jacob George, including our very own Bioinformatics Facility Lead Dr Brian Gloss, for continuing to forge ahead on the edges of the frontiers of medical research with their passion for discovery.
👉 You can read the full article in the Journal of Inflammation Research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33833547/
