ScienceDaily —
Significant insights for development of vaccine against asthma
Researchers at VIB (a leading life sciences institute in Flanders, Belgium) and Ghent University have successfully established a causal relationship between exposure to so-called farm dust and protection against asthma and allergies. This breakthrough discovery is a major step forward towards the development of an asthma vaccine. The results of the research were published in the journal Science.
It is commonly known that drinking raw cow’s milk can provide protection against allergies. A 14-member research team, led by professors Bart Lambrecht and Hamida Hammad (both associated with VIB and Ghent University) has now established a solid scientific basis for this claim.
Promising tests on mice
Many years ago, it was found that children growing up on farms are far better protected against asthma and allergies. However, until recently, scientists were unable to pinpoint why this is the case.
Prof. Bart Lambrecht (VIB/Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital): “At this point, we have revealed an actual link between farm dust and protection against asthma and allergies. We did this by exposing mice to farm dust extract from Germany and Switzerland. These tests revealed that the mice were fully protected against house dust mite allergy, the most common cause for allergies in humans.”
Significant role of protein A20
In addition to the causal relationship, the scientists discovered the mechanism behind this: farm dust makes the mucous membrane inside the respiratory tracts react less severely to allergens such as house dust mite.
Prof. Hamida Hammad (VIB/Ghent University): “This effect is created by the A20 protein, which the body produces upon contact with farm dust. When we inactivate the A20 protein in the mucous membrane of the lungs, farm dust is no longer able to reduce an allergic or asthmatic reaction.”
Tests in patients
These findings were then tested in patients. The results showed that people suffering from allergies and asthma have a deficiency in the protective protein A20. It explains why they react to allergens so severely.
Prof. Bart Lambrecht (VIB/Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital): “We also assessed a test group of 2,000 children growing up on farms, and found that most of them are protected. Those who are not protected and still develop allergies have a genetic variant of the A20 gene which causes the A20 protein to malfunction.”
Clear prospects for the future
The team’s conclusions have opened up several possibilities for future research. At the moment, they are trying to identify the active substance in farm dust that is responsible for providing protection. Once this has been identified, the development of a preventive medicine against asthma may be the next step.
Prof. Hamida Hammad (VIB/Ghent University): “We already suspect that to some extent, the answer lies in the endotoxines, which form part of the cell wall of specific bacteria. There are very likely other contributing substances as well. Discovering how farm dust provides this type of protection has certainly put us on the right track towards developing an asthma vaccine and new allergy therapies. However, several years of research are required still before they will be available to patients.”
The research was conducted at the VIB Inflammation Research Center, UGent, in partnership with researchers from Munich, Rotterdam and Marseille.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Origional Post here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150903144647.htm
Asthma is a chronic (life time) disease that makes your lungs very sensitive and hard to breathe. but with proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.
If you have asthma, your airways (breathing passages) are very sensitive. Certain things can make your airways become:
Swollen and filled with mucus – the swelling and mucus makes your airways narrower, so it is hard for air to pass through
Small and tight – your airways might also become twitchy and squeeze together and tighten. This makes your airways narrower and hard for air to pass through.
People with asthma should not avoid exercising. As long as your asthma is under control, exercising is recommended to keep your lungs and body in good shape.
Exercise helps you:
strengthen your breathing muscles
boost your immune system
keep a healthy body weight
All of these benefits can improve your asthma in the long run. The key to exercise – make sure your asthma is under control before you start.
If you have asthma that’s triggered by exercise, you should follow your asthma action plan.
https://www.lung.ca/asthma
Allergy involves an exaggerated response of the immune system, often to common substances such as foods or pollen.
The immune system is a complex system that normally defends the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, while also surveying for conditions such as cancer and autoimmunity.
Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and that cause an allergic reaction.
IgE is the allergic antibody.
Although many individuals outgrow allergies over time, allergies can also develop at any age, including during adulthood.
While the environment plays a role in the development of allergy, there is a greater risk of developing allergic conditions if a person has a family history of allergy, especially in parents or siblings.
http://www.medicinenet.com/allergy/article.htm