Scientists have solved a decades-old biological mystery, revealing an unexpected dual role for a key inflammatory signaling pathway.

Scientists have uncovered a surprising function of a molecule that controls inflammation: It not only recruits immune cells to fight infections but also helps protect healthy tissue from damage. The discovery, published October 7 in Nature, solves a biological mystery that puzzled researchers for more than 30 years.

The findings from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) could advance research into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma.