Understanding the Science
The science, in plain English
You don't need a science degree to understand what we're working on. Here is the idea in everyday language.
The big idea
When you're hurt, your immune system sounds an alarm to clean up and repair. Normally it switches off when the job is done. In some diseases it gets stuck on, and the alarm causes more harm than the original injury. XytriX is being studied to see whether it can reset that alarm.
A few words, translated
Alarm signals
Chemical messages that switch inflammation on.
Scientists say: cytokines
Repair signals
Messages that protect cells and help them heal.
Scientists say: growth factors
Message packets
Tiny bubbles that cells send to instruct other cells.
Scientists say: exosomes
Peacekeeper cells
Immune cells that tell the system to stand down.
Scientists say: regulatory T cells
Cleanup crew
The brain's own immune cells.
Scientists say: microglia
Each condition, simply
Knee osteoarthritis
Worn cartilage sets off an alarm that wears down more cartilage.
Alzheimer's
The brain's cleanup crew gets stuck attacking and damages the connections between brain cells.
ALS
The nerves that move muscles lose their support, and the peacekeepers fall.
CTE
Years of head impacts leave the brain's alarm stuck on for decades.
A galaxy of cellular signaling
Read the full science →