Gene responsible for Heart Development has a new Role in Immune System

Researchers at the University of Bonn , Germany, have found that genetic provision, which plays a role in the development of the embryo's heart, now plays a role in the human immune system. The paper entitled  "CRELD1 modulates homeostasis of the immune system in mice and humans"

CRELD1 is a critical factor for the development of the heart, whose role in adult life is uncertain. "We provide evidence here that CRELD1 is a significant gatekeeper of homeostasis of the immune system," the researchers wrote.

It is understood that the gene CRELD1 plays an important role in the development of the embryo's heart. After birth, CRELD1 remains active, but its role after birth has not been established.

Transcriptome data from three separate studies was combined by the researchers. "Anna Aschenbrenner, PhD, from the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn and a member of the ImmunoSensation2 Cluster of Excellence, explained:" It provided us with information on the behaviour of the genetic material, including the CRELD1 gene, for a total of 4,500 test subjects. Furthermore, the data for these participants also included information on certain subjects and Immunological parameters, such as the blood count of various immune cells.

The 4,500 research subjects studied included those in whom the gene CRELD1 was substantially less involved. They found that the donors' blood had very few T cells. The genetic loss of the CRELD1 gene was the reason behind the loss of T cells, further experiments and observations with mouse studies showed.

Creld1 loss was associated with concurrent overactivation and increased apoptosis, resulting in a net loss of age-related T cells. Creld1 was related to Wnt signalling transcriptionally and functionally. Collectively, in large human populations, gene expression variation combined with murine genetic models, transcriptomics, and functional testing identifies CRELD1 as an effective immune homeostasis modulator, ” the researchers noted.

In individuals with a "aged" immune system, we see similar improvements, "Aschenbrenner stressed." Those affected are, as currently mentioned in the sense of COVID-19, much more vulnerable to infections, but likely also to age-related diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease. The function of multiple genes in the blood is considered to be altered in a characteristic fashion, which experts often refer to as a hallmark of immunological ageing. "Among participants with low CRELD1 activity, we found precisely this signature," Aschenbrenner said.

The researchers look forward to understanding the causes of immunological ageing with the expectation that CRELD1 can benefit them. "The long-term aim is to slow down or stop this process," Aschenbrenner explained. "Maybe this will substantially reduce the risk of disease in seniors."