Scientists have discovered an 'On/Off' switch in the heart... But what does it do?

Why does cholesterol spiral out of control when inflammation increases in the body? Scientists have discovered a “key enzyme” that provides the answer to this question and could change the lives of millions of people.

Scientists at the University of Texas at Arlington have made a critical discovery that inflammation can disrupt cholesterol metabolism, triggering serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and even dementia. The research focused on macrophages, cells that function in the immune system.

The team, led by chemistry professor Dr. Subhrangsu S. Mandal, determined that an enzyme called "IDO1" is activated during the inflammatory process and produces a substance called "kynurenine" that blocks cholesterol absorption. However, when this enzyme was blocked, macrophages were able to process cholesterol healthily again.

“This could be a key to unlocking the basis of inflammation-related diseases,” said Dr. Mandal, emphasizing that blocking IDO1 not only balances cholesterol levels but also has the potential to prevent many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and neurological disorders.

The study also found that another enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), worsens the effects of IDO1. Scientists believe that next-generation treatments that target both IDO1 and NOS could lead to breakthroughs in controlling inflammation-related cholesterol disorders.

The team, which includes doctoral and graduate students as well as many young researchers, plans to investigate drug mechanisms that can safely block IDO1 in the next phase.