Type I interferons can block the development of allergy and asthma Th2 cells conduct -
A mechanism that may underlie the development of cells that stimulate asthma and allergy was discovered by immunology researchers at UT-Southwestern Medical Center.
asthma and allergies are both driven by inappropriate activation of the immune system, especially a subtype of white blood cells called T helper 2 cells, or Th2 cells. These cells are normally responsible for defending against parasites, but are also the main culprits behind the symptoms of asthma and allergies.
Dr. David Farrar, associate professor of immunology and molecular biology at UT-Southwestern, and his team found that the antiviral molecules known as type I interferons (IFN) block the development of these Th2 cells and potentially allergic asthma conduct.
"the fact that interferon may stop the activation of these harmful cells was of particular interest because interferons are already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and hepatitis, "said Dr. Farrar, who holds the judge Wayne Streilein, MD Professor of immunology.
work, published in the Journal of immunology could eventually lead to new therapies
to demonstrate the prevalence of asthma in the United States about 13 percent of adults. - nearly 30 million people - have been diagnosed with asthma . This rate compares to 11 percent who were diagnosed with heart disease and 8 percent who had a form of cancer, according to the Centers for disease Control and Prevention. asthma is reported more often in women than in men in white people, and families with limited economic resources. Allergies, too, are widespread, with more than 17.5 million people suffering from hay fever in the US
The development of Th2 cells is stimulated by a particular immune molecule that triggers the production of a protein called GATA3. Frequently referred to as master regulator of the development of Th2 cells, GATA3 turns on genes that distinguish the Th2 cells from other cell types, including other T cells
The group of Dr. Farrar found that type I interferons block this process by identifying some of the GATA3 gene known as exon 1a name and put it off, which inhibits the production of the protein GATA3 and therefore the development of Th2 cells.
"Targeting this pathway can lead to permanent tolerance of these cells to allergens," said Dr. Farrar.- "We are currently pursuing studies that can lead to clinical trials that will determine whether the interferon can be used to treat patients with allergic asthma. "
Dr. Farrar's laboratory studies how a collective group of proteins called cytokines regulate immune responses. interferon type 1, the first immune cytokine discovered, is one of the first lines of defense against the virus. the protein was originally identified based on its ability to inhibit influenza virus.- Since then, scientists have discovered that almost all cells of the body can secrete interferon if it is infected by certain viruses, and that most cells can respond to interferon.
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