Frequency Of T-cells Determines Severity Of Asthma, Study Finds

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Allergy
Article Date: 26 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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According to a new study, the frequency of regulatory T-cells (Treg) correlates to the severity of inflammation in allergic asthma, suggesting that Treg may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis.

A study in Respirology, published by Wiley-Blackwell, used mouse models and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects with allergic asthma to assess the association of the Treg cells with asthma phenotypes.

Researchers found that the frequency of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of allergic asthmatics were lower when compared to healthy subjects. Lung Treg were also found to be associated with the severity of eosinophillic airway inflammation in the mice.

"The correlation of Treg with asthma pathogenesis indicates that it is important to evaluate Tregs in allergic asthmatic patients - especially in relation to clinical severity and the degree of airway inflammation", said author Professor Hiromasa Inoue from the Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University.

This study demonstrates the importance of Treg in asthma pathogenesis, leading to a greater understanding of asthma pathogenesis as consequence of the imbalance between Th2-prone immune response and Treg-mediated tolerance.

The article abstract is available free of charge online http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121661807/abstract

About Respirology

Respirology is a journal of international standing, publishing peer-reviewed articles of scientific excellence in clinical and experimental respiratory biology and disease and its related fields of research including thoracic surgery, internal medicine, immunology, intensive and critical care, epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, pathology, pharmacology and physiology.

About Wiley-Blackwell

Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit http://www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell or http://interscience.wiley.com.

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Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry and Peace.

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