Inflammatory protein potential key to treating severe asthma: Study

Australian Researchers Make Breakthrough in Treating Severe Asthma

Canberra, Feb 26 (IANS) Australian researchers have made a breakthrough in treating severe cases of asthma. In a study published on Monday, researchers found that beta common cytokines, a family of proinflammatory molecules, control inflammation and scarring of the airways in severe and steroid-resistant asthma cases. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affected 262 million people globally in 2019.

The study, led by a team from the University of South Australia (UniSA), indicated that a human therapeutic antibody called trabikihart could effectively block the inflammation and scarring. Current treatments target single molecules, but asthma involves multiple immune cells and pathways. Damon Tumes, joint leader of the study, explained that targeting multiple inflammatory cytokines with a single drug may be the key to treating and controlling complex and severe chronic airway disease.

The National Asthma Council Australia reported in November 2023 that asthma caused 467 deaths in Australia in 2022, the highest number since 2017. In South Australia (SA), asthma deaths increased by 88 percent between 2021 and 2022. The researchers’ findings offer hope for improved treatment options for those with severe and steroid-resistant asthma.

“Inflammation and tissue damage in severe asthma is caused by several types of immune cells that enter the lungs due to allergens, viruses and other microbes that interact with the airways,” Tumes said. “In some people, the inflammation is resistant to steroids, the first treatment option for controlling severe asthma.”

The discovery of the role of beta common cytokines in controlling asthma inflammation and scarring opens up new possibilities for more effective treatments. With further research and development of therapeutic antibodies like trabikihart, there is potential to revolutionize the management of severe asthma cases, offering relief to millions worldwide.