Introduction: The Double-Edged Sword of Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s essential self-defense mechanism against infection and injury. When immune cells detect threats, they mount an inflammatory response to neutralize danger and initiate healing. However, this vital process can become a double-edged sword — excessive or uncontrolled inflammation underlies many serious health conditions, including sepsis, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic syndrome.
One of the greatest challenges in medicine is learning how to apply timely “brakes” to an overactive immune response, preventing it from spiraling out of control without compromising the ability to defend the body. Recent research from Tongji Medical College, published in the esteemed journal Cell Metabolism, has uncovered a remarkable natural mechanism within our bodies that could hold the key to this conundrum.
