Drs. Gregory Hudalla, Benjamin Keselowsky, and team members have a new paper published in the high-profile interdisciplinary research journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. The paper is entitled, Suppression of local inflammation via galectin-anchored indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Current treatments for chronic inflammation, such as glucocorticoids and biologic immunosuppressive drugs, can lead to serious adverse effects and require life-long use. While these therapies can effectively halt disease progression in some patients, they are ineffective for all and can disrupt tissue homeostasis.

A new approach to therapeutic immunomodulation has emerged in recent years, which involves directing cellular metabolism to program immune responses. This approach has shown promise for resolving chronic inflammation and restoring tissue homeostasis without the toxic side effects associated with current treatments.

By targeting specific metabolic pathways in immune cells, the team can control the activity and modulate immune responses in a more precise and controlled manner. For example, manipulating the metabolism of T cells has been shown to reduce inflammation in animal models of inflammatory diseases, such as colitis and multiple sclerosis.

While this approach is still in its early stages of development, it holds great potential for developing more effective and specific therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases. By targeting cellular metabolism, researchers can program immune responses in a more precise and controlled manner, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Team members:

• Dr. Gregory Hudalla, associate professor and graduate coordinator, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida
• Dr. Benjamin Keselowsky, professor and associate chair for graduate studies, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida
• Dr. Kyle Allen, associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida
• Dr. Shannon Wallet, professor and chair, College of Dentistry, University of Florida
• Dr. Craig Duvall, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University