A common denominator in chronic diseases points to new therapeutic targets

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Cellular traffic congestion in chronic diseases suggests new therapeutic targets

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are on the rise but treating them has proven difficult because there is not one simple cause, like a single gene mutation, that a treatment could target. At least, that’s how it has appeared to scientists—until now.

What they’ve learned: Whitehead Institute Member Richard Young , along with postdoc Alessandra Dall'Agnese , graduate students Shannon Moreno and Ming Zeng, and research scientist Tony Lee , has discovered that many chronic diseases have a common denominator that could be driving their dysfunction: reduced protein mobility.

Why it matters: Chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and inflammatory disorders are a leading cause of disease burden and deaths around the globe, are physically and economically taxing, and the number of people with such diseases is growing. Reduced protein mobility may prove to be a promising therapeutic target for these conditions.

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