A new study conducted at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas examines the regulation of certain immune cells and reveals how they can be manipulated to reduce severity of symptoms in inflammatory diseases such as asthma.
The paper, titled "IL-1 is a critical regulator of Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell function and plasticity," was recently published in Nature Immunology.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing.One in 14 people in the U.S. suffer from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Recently a new class of immune cells found in the lungs – group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2 cells) – has been studied for their role in triggering asthma symptoms such as mucus production and hypersensitive airways. In this study, researchers uncovered that a certain cell-secreted molecule, Interleukin-1(IL-1), interacts with ILC2 cells and cause them to multiply.Manipulation of interactions between ILC2 cells and IL-1 cytokine may lead to better treatment for asthma patients.
"We're really proud of this work because it could point to potential therapies for treating chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma," said LuAnn Thompson-Snipes, PhD, adjunct professor and assistant investigator at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, an arm of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute. "As we learn more about the regulation of our cellular immune responses, we come closer to paving the way for a cure."
The cause of asthma is unknown, but researchers believe it's due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although asthma can't be cured, appropriate management through medication and avoidance of environmental triggers can control the disease and improve quality of life.
For more information on research conducted by Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, visit www.BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine.
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