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ScienceQuiet 7d · day 11

UCL scientists find natural molecular brake that shuts down inflammation

A UCL study identifies epoxy-oxylipins as a natural mechanism that halts harmful immune cell buildup and speeds pain relief, pointing to new anti-inflammatory drug targets.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 11d ago8 pieces4 likes & upvotes NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodonRedditHacker News

What to know

  • Epoxy-oxylipins act as natural brakes that prevent excessive growth of intermediate monocytes, immune cells linked to chronic inflammation.
  • In a human trial, blocking the enzyme sEH with the drug GSK2256294 raised epoxy-oxylipin levels, sped pain resolution, and sharply cut intermediate monocyte counts without changing outward signs like redness or swelling.
  • The molecule 12,13-EpOME appears to work by suppressing the p38 MAPK signaling pathway that drives monocytes toward their harmful inflammatory form.
  • Findings, published in Nature Communications, point toward potential new treatments that calm chronic inflammation without broadly suppressing immunity.

“Targeting this mechanism could lead to safer treatments that restore immune balance without suppressing overall immunity. With chronic inflammation ranked as a major global health threat, this discovery opens a promising avenue for new therapies.”

Dr. Olivia Bracken, First author, UCL · Science Daily ↗ · Sep 10

Dr. Olivia Bracken First author, UCL Department of Ageing, Rheumatology and Regenerative Medicine

UCL scientists find natural molecular brake that shuts down inflammation
sciencedaily.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Sep 12, 8 PM; 8 pieces over 11 days (3 articles · 5 posts) Sep 12, 8 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Sep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 2 AM — quietSep 13, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 13, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 2 PM — quietSep 13, 5 PM — quietSep 13, 8 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 2 AM — quietSep 14, 5 AM — quietSep 14, 8 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 14, 2 PM — quietSep 14, 5 PM — quietSep 14, 8 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 2 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — quietSep 15, 8 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Sep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quiet 1
Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 7:45 AM ET
  1. 1

    Coverage of the findings syndicates across outlets

    Science Daily's report and its wire version circulated via Google News and social sharing platforms including Mastodon/Flipboard, extending reach of the study's findings without new developments.

    “Our findings reveal a natural pathway that limits harmful immune cell expansion and helps calm inflammation more quickly.”
    — Dr. Olivia Bracken, First author, UCL · source

    • Researchers have identified a natural braking mechanism in the immune system that switches off inflammation and prevents dangerous immune cell accumulation — boosting this pathway in people reduced ha # wellness # immunology # research https://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2026 /09/260911214306.htm?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub…

      Econopass@flipboard.comMastodon11d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    Team traces mechanism to p38 MAPK suppression — Laboratory experiments and volunteers given a direct p38 blocker confirmed that the epoxy-oxylipin 12,13-EpOME suppresses the p38 MAPK pathway that drives monocytes into their prolonged-inflammation form.

  3. background

    Human trial links sEH-blocking drug to faster pain relief — Healthy volunteers injected with UV-killed E. coli to trigger temporary inflammation were given the drug GSK2256294, which blocks the enzyme sEH and raises epoxy-oxylipin levels; this sped up pain resolution and sharply reduced intermediate monocytes in blood and tissue, though outward signs like redness and swelling were unchanged.

  4. background

    UCL team publishes discovery of inflammation 'shutdown' pathway — Researchers at University College London published findings in Nature Communications identifying epoxy-oxylipins as molecules that act as natural brakes on the immune system, limiting harmful buildup of intermediate monocytes.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Scientists Discover How the Body May Put the Brakes on Inflammation

    first by EURweb, 11d ago · also Science Daily

    1 more headline