Babies in the Womb May Already Be Learning LanguageVideo
Some Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics Because Parents Want Them
What Kids Wear Could Determine How Much Exercise They Get
Few College Students Have Received the H1N1 Vaccine
Night Lights Could Lead to Depression
Cervarix Has Been Approved by the FDA
The FDA Is Studying the Effects of Lasik Surgery
Painkillers Can Dull the Effects of Childhood Vaccines
Childbirth May Becoming More Complicated
Botox Sponges Might Help Nose Allergies
The FDA Advises on How to Properly Dispose of Medicine
A French Study Shows Cell Phones Do Not Affect Humans
MRIs May Lead to More Back Surgery
Your More Likely to Wash Your Hands If Someone's Watching
Co-Sleeping Is a Leading Cause of SIDSCategories
- Allergy
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Breast Cancer
- Cardio Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- Colon Cancer
- Diabetes
- Dieting
- Epilepsy
- Hair Loss
- Headache
- Heartburn
- HIV & AIDS
- Kidney Health
- Leukemia
- Lung Cancer
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Men's Health
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Prostate Health
- Skin Health
- Sleep Disorders
- Women's Health
- General
Protein May Hold Key to Blocking Allergy-Induced Asthma
Posted on 05/21/2009, 16:00
By -- Robert Preidt
Team finds mice lacking certain gene showed fewer signs of condition
THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- A protein that might be linked to allergy-induced asthma has been identified by U.S. researchers, who said their finding could lead to new drugs to treat the disease.
The researchers found that mice without the ion channel protein TRPA1 showed fewer signs of asthma.
"When compared to normal mice, those lacking the gene for TRPA1 had greatly diminished inflammation, airway mucus and bronchoconstriction," the study's lead author, Sven-Eric Jordt, an assistant professor of pharmacology at Yale School of Medicine, said in a Yale news release.
Previous research has shown that TRPA1 is a sensor for irritants such as cigarette smoke and certain chemicals that can trigger asthma. The protein is found in airway nerve cells that control pain and irritation and trigger coughing and sneezing.
The researchers also found that a drug called HC-030031 -- which is known to inhibit pain related to TRPA1 -- reduced asthma symptoms in mice.
"Blocking TRPA1 may prevent the infiltration of the lung by the inflammatory cells responsible for asthma symptoms such as wheezing and mucus overproduction," Jordt said.
Several of the researchers are advisers or employees of the biosciences company that is developing HC-030031 as a potential asthma drug.
The study appears online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has more about asthma.
SOURCE: Yale University, news release, May 18, 2009
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
BigHealthTree.com Disclaimer
Bighealthtree.com Does Not Provide Medical Advice. This site, including the above information, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health or medical professional before starting any new treatment, changing existing treatment, or altering your current exercise and/or diet program. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency services in your area) or your doctor immediately.
Rating: 2.6 / 5 (24 votes)
 |
 |
Comments (0):
Be the first to comment on this article.
Post a comment