News Release

Study identifies important regulator of chronic, low-level inflammation

Inflammation caused by obesity is highly dependent on levels of the signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

A new study by a team of Rosalind Franklin University researchers headed by Carl White, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and biophysics, has discovered that the degree of chronic inflammation caused by obesity is highly dependent on levels of the signaling molecule, hydrogen sulfide, which alters the activity of a calcium channel, Orai3. These findings establish the possibility of targeting Orai3 as a novel treatment for the treatment of obesity-related inflammation, which has the added benefits of reducing insulin resistance and the likelihood of of developing type 2 diabetes.

Featured as the December 15, 2015 cover of the journal Science Signaling, the paper is co-authored by investigators from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, including lead authors Gopal V. Velmurugan, PhD, and Huiya Huang, PhD, and members of RFU's Department of Microbiology and Immunology and researchers at Northwestern University.

Carl White, PhD, principle investigator and senior author on the study, comments on the findings in the journal's weekly podcast.

Located in North Chicago, IL, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is a national leader in interprofessional medical and healthcare education, offering a doctor of medicine degree through the Chicago Medical School, doctor of podiatric medicine degree through the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, doctor of pharmacy degree through the College of Pharmacy, and a range of degrees through its College of Health Professions, including nurse anesthesia, nutrition, physical therapy, pathologists' assistant and physician assistant. The university also offers advanced biomedical degrees through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. For more information, visit http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu.

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