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Controlling Genes that Control Asthma
Inappropriate contraction of airway smooth muscle cells in addition to changes in smooth muscle cells have been implicated in the development of airway obstruction that accompanies asthma. This muscle cell dysfunction in asthma and other lung disorders is not fully understood. Dr. Olson has identified key signaling proteins involved in pathological changes in muscle cells and plans to apply this knowledge and unique genetic tools to dissect the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. These studies have the potential to lead to the development of small molecule therapeutics or novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatments that mimic the actions of corticosteroids to prevent or reverse asthma. - Eric Olson, Ph.D. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
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A Surprising Improvement in Asthma from Activating an Immune Receptor
Immune cells have specialized receptors for broadly recognizing different types of bacteria and viruses. One of these receptors, called TLR7, is thought to recognize a type of virus and to activate an immune response. Dr. Radzioch stimulated these receptors in the lungs of rodents with asthma and found, surprisingly, that this caused a marked improvement in asthma. She is further pursuing this observation with the hope that it will apply to human asthma. - Danuta Radzioch, Ph.D. McGill University
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A System for Regulating Immunity that is Broadly Shared by Animals and Plants
A few years ago, Dr. Ting described a group of related proteins that are used throughout the animal and plant kingdoms to control immunity and inflammation. She called these CATERPILLER proteins, recently named NLR proteins. While the primary role for these proteins may be to regulate the response to infection, Dr. Ting has found that levels of these proteins are greatly altered in asthma. She is studying both animals and humans with asthma in order to define how CATERPILLER proteins govern asthma—and how they can, in turn, be regulated to improve asthma. - Jenny P-Y Ting, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Visualizing the Lungs during an Attack of Asthma
To better understand what causes asthma, it would be useful for scientists to see exactly what happens during asthma: how the airways close and open, what changes occur in the cells and fluids in airways, and what changes occur in the cells and enzymes that surround the airways. Dr. Weissleder is a leader in exploring new approaches to look at living tissue, and he is now turning his attention to the lung. He has begun with studies of rodents, allowing investigators to learn more from observing asthma in mice. His work will have future application to humans with asthma as well. - Ralph Weissleder, M.D., Ph.D. Harvard Medical School
