Immune system key to new asthma treatment

A new study has found that asthma sufferers have low levels of an immune system protein that acts as the lungs first defense against the cold virus. This finding will have a significant impact on the way the disease is treated. The discovery was based on two studies.

The first study examined the cells that line the airways and protect against the viruses that cause the common cold. Tests showed that people with asthma have low levels of these protective cells.

In the second study, people with and without asthma were deliberately infected with a virus to provoke a common cold. While all the subjects got colds, the asthmatics suffered more severely, and showed an increase in asthma symptoms.

The researchers discovered that asthmatics did not produce the protective cells that line the airways effectively. A shortage of these cells was found to contribute to most severe asthma attacks.

An estimated 2 million people in Australia are currently receiving treatment for asthma, 1 in 6 children and 1 in 10 adults. Half of these people experience severe symptoms.

Professor Sebastian Johnston, who led the research team, said that the discovery of this mechanism could alter the way we treat asthma attacks. “Delivery of the deficient cells by inhalers could be an ideal way to treat and prevent severe attacks of asthma.

Remember: Visit your doctor for a check-up and to fine tune your management and action plans.

Source: Journal of Nature Medicine 2006; doi:10.1038/nm1462 http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm1462.html
Asthma Foundation of Australia
http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/cgi-bin/wrapper.pl?c1=aboutasthma