New drugs targets for asthma discovered
Tuesday 31st May 2011
Researchers have found a previously unknown biological pathway explaining why influenza triggers asthma attacks, presenting a new set of drug targets for asthma.
According to a study, published in journal Nature Immunology, influenza activates a newly recognised group of immune cells known as natural helper cells.
If activation of these cells were to be blocked, people with asthma could be better protected when they get the flu. These benefits could potentially stretch to other viral infections, according to authors.
Senior investigator Dale Umetsu said: "Without these cells being activated, infection did not cause airway hyperreactivity, the cardinal feature of asthma.
"Now we can start to think of this pathway as a target - IL-33, the natural helper cell itself or the factors it produces."
This follows comments from Asthma UK that said GPs should be better trained in the treatment of asthma.
Just under two-thirds of GPs feel they do not know enough about the treatment of the condition, which could put many lives at risk.
Written by Martin Lambert
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