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Asthma Research Breakthrough Holds Promise Of Cure
July 06, 1999New research has made a vital breakthrough in the understanding of how asthma is caused, bringing the possibility of treatments for its prevention and cure.
One in seven children in the UK now suffer from asthma, and it is on the increase world-wide. Carried out at St George's Hospital Medical School in London, this collaborative study by scientists from the UK, North America and Australia, funded by the National Asthma Campaign, has demonstrated the role played by the House Dust Mite in the development of asthma allergy.
People who are genetically susceptible to asthma develop allergies to house dust mites when they breathe in the mites' faeces, which contain digestive enzymes. Allergies develop to these enzymes, which are called allergens. It is the penetration of these allergens into lung tissue which can stimulate the body's immune system and trigger the development of asthma.
For the first time, this research has shown how these house dust mite allergens penetrate the lung tissue, which is normally protected from foreign bodies by a protective lining. The allergens destroy the adhesive proteins, a sort of biological glue, that hold the cells of the airway together. This causes small pores to form in the lining, through which the allergen enters the lung tissue.
These findings could prove crucial to the prevention and cure of asthma. Until now the events that occur in the lungs during an asthma attack were well understood, but not how asthma develops initially. This new work rectifies that problem and provides a major clue towards understanding how and why people develop asthma. Novel targets have been identified for the development of new drugs to control existing asthma, and the new insights herald the prospect of asthma prevention.
Research team member, Professor David Garrod, of The University of Manchester, commented: "This is a very simple idea which offers great prospects for the prevention and treatment of asthma and other allergies."
Ends
Manchester, The University of
For the first time, this research has shown how these house dust mite allergens penetrate the lung tissue, which is normally protected from foreign bodies by a protective lining. The allergens destroy the adhesive proteins, a sort of biological glue, that hold the cells of the airway together. This causes small pores to form in the lining, through which the allergen enters the lung tissue.
These findings could prove crucial to the prevention and cure of asthma. Until now the events that occur in the lungs during an asthma attack were well understood, but not how asthma develops initially. This new work rectifies that problem and provides a major clue towards understanding how and why people develop asthma. Novel targets have been identified for the development of new drugs to control existing asthma, and the new insights herald the prospect of asthma prevention.
Research team member, Professor David Garrod, of The University of Manchester, commented: "This is a very simple idea which offers great prospects for the prevention and treatment of asthma and other allergies."
Ends
Manchester, The University of
Asthma News and Current Asthma Events RSSObese people with asthma have nearly 5 times greater risk of hospitalization for asthma
Obese people who have asthma are nearly five times more likely to be hospitalized for the condition than non-obese people with asthma, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the September issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Innate immune system targets asthma-linked fungus for destruction
A new study shows that the innate immune system of humans is capable of killing a fungus linked to airway inflammation, chronic rhinosinusitis and bronchial asthma.
Physical and sexual abuse linked to asthma in Puerto Rican kids
Children who are physically or sexually abused are more than twice as likely to have asthma as their peers, according to a recent study of urban children in Puerto Rico. In fact, physical and sexual abuse was second only to maternal asthma in all the risk factors tested, including paternal asthma and indicators of socioeconomic status.
Heavy breathing -- an obscure link in asthma and obesity
There is a strong link between obesity and asthma and as the prevalence of both conditions has been increasing steadily, epidemiologists have speculated that there is an underlying condition that connects the two.
Asthma monitoring on the Web
An inexpensive web-enabled device for measuring lung function in patients with asthma and other disorders is being developed by researchers at Texas Instruments, in Bangalore, India, and co-workers. Writing in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, the team explains how the devise could allow physicians to monitor their patients remotely and quickly instigate medical attention in an emergency.
Seeing through tooth decay
Dental caries afflict at least 90% of the world's population at some time in their lives. Detecting the first signs of this disease, which can be lethal in extreme cases, just got easier thanks to work by researchers in India discussed in the latest issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.
UC Davis researchers define characteristics, treatment options for XXYY syndrome
Researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute and The Children's Hospital in Denver have conducted the largest study to date describing the medical and psychological characteristics of a rare genetic disorder in which males have two "X" and two "Y" chromosomes, rather than the normal one of each.
Infection Blocks Lung's Protective Response Against Tobacco Smoke
An infection that often goes undetected can block the lung's natural protective response against tobacco smoke, according to researchers at National Jewish Health.
Many U.S. Public Schools in 'Air Pollution Danger Zone'
One in three U.S. public schools are in the "air pollution danger zone," according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC).
Asthma in boys may be just a phase, but for girls it may be there to stay
Boys may be more apt than girls to have childhood asthma, but, when compared to girls, they are also more likely to grow out of it in adolescence and have a decreased incidence of asthma in the post-pubertal years. This indicates that there may be a buried mechanism in asthma development, according to a prospective study that analyzed airway responsiveness (AR) in more than 1,000 children with mild to moderate asthma over a period of about nine years.
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