Alcohol Abuse Drug May Halt Trauma-Induced Cell Death, Especially in Females
A common medication used to treat alcohol use disorder may hold the key to preventing runaway cell death and inflammation following severe trauma, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that disulfiram, an FDA-approved drug, shows promise in interrupting the destructive processes triggered by traumatic injuries.
Did you know? Trauma is the leading cause of death in young peopel. Current treatment options are limited, making this research particularly notable.
The study, published in Science translational Medicine, suggests that early management of such therapies could mitigate tissue damage, improve survival rates, and reduce hospital stays for patients experiencing severe trauma from events like falls or vehicle accidents.
According to dr. Timothy billiar, M.D., George Vance Foster Professor and Chair of Pitt’s department of Surgery, We have dozens of drugs for autoimmune diseases, hundreds for cancer-but there’s almost nothing for trauma, the leading cause of death in young people.
He added, Our research is leading to a completely new way to think about how we can intervene in early trauma and prevent this runaway inflammation from causing organ failure and death.
Targeting Cell Death: A Novel Approach
- Researchers focused on pyroptosis, a form of cell death that triggers inflammation.
- They investigated four different drugs,each inhibiting a different type of cell death.
- the moast significant reversal of cell death and inflammation occurred when blocking gasdermin D, a molecule that initiates pyroptosis.
Pro Tip: Gasdermin D triggers pyroptosis by creating holes in cell membranes, leading to the release of cellular contents and subsequent inflammation.
The study involved treating mice with the four drugs, each designed to inhibit a specific type of cell death.While all drugs showed some reversal of runaway cell death and inflammation, blocking gasdermin D yielded the most ample results. This was further supported by observations of mice lacking the gasdermin D molecule, which exhibited a lessened trauma response.
Sex-Specific Differences in Trauma Response
Interestingly, the benefits of inhibiting gasdermin D were more pronounced in female mice compared to male mice.
The difference between males and females is striking. This could mean that, in a precision medicine approach to trauma, we give gasdermin D inhibitors to women and a different drug or combination of drugs to men.
Dr. Timothy Billiar, M.D., George Vance Foster Professor and Chair of Pitt’s Department of Surgery
Future Directions
The research team plans to conduct large animal trials, followed by human clinical trials, to refine treatment strategies. They also aim to develop next-generation medications that selectively target gasdermin D to minimize potential side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is pyroptosis? Pyroptosis is a form of cell death that triggers inflammation.
- What is gasdermin D? Gasdermin D is a molecule that triggers pyroptosis by creating holes in cell membranes.
- Why is this research vital? Trauma is a leading cause of death, and current treatment options are limited.
- What are the next steps? Large animal trials and human clinical trials are planned to further refine treatment strategies.
