Chronic inflammation is a predisposing factor for colorectal cancer, which is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Dr. Anna Means and colleagues reported in the journal Cell and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology last month that they linked the inflammation-driven carcinogenesis of the colon to the loss of an important signaling protein called SMAD4. SMAD4 is part of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, which regulates the immune and inflammatory response to infection in the colonic epithelium.
Tirtiridda gaarka ah ee hiddo-wadaha SMAD4 ee unugyada epithelial mindhicirka caadiga ah ee jiirka ee ku koray vivo waxay kordhisay muujinta dhexdhexaadiyeyaasha bararka. Jiirarka qaangaarka ah ee leh caabuqa, la'aanta SMAD4 waxay keentaa isku mid la yaab leh oo u dhexeeya burooyinka iyo kansarrada la xidhiidha colitis bini'aadamka.
Loss of SMAD4 was also observed in 48% of human colitis-related cancers, compared with 19% of scattered kansarka mindhicirka. “This loss may be an important factor from premalignant lesions to aggressive malignant tumors,” the researchers concluded. Therefore, friends with chronic inflammation must eliminate inflammation in time, and do not regret it until the inflammation develops into cancer.
