Two metabolites that inhibit Th17 differentiation for MS; plus Cirius’ MPC inhibitor for COVID-19 and more

Two independent Japanese teams identified separate metabolites that could be harnessed to treat multiple sclerosis by suppressing Th17 cell differentiation.

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University researchers described in Cell Reports therapeutic use of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), a glycolytic intermediate metabolite that negatively regulated Th17 differentiation by inhibiting DNA-binding activity of the Th17 cell transcription factors AP-1, BATF and IRF4. Daily administration of PEP inhibited Th17 cell generation and decreased disease symptoms in a mouse model of MS, without impacting glycolysis, proliferation or survival of CD4⁺ T cells. The authors filed a patent application related to the work...