Japanese Researchers Discover Antagonistic Cells that Reduce Lung Inflammation
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo have uncovered a surprising role for basophils in the recovery from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
Basophils, typically associated with atopic dermatitis and asthma, have been found to alleviate lung inflammation during ARDS recovery. These immune cells accumulate in the lungs and secrete interleukin-4 (IL-4), a substance that reduces inflammation by suppressing neutrophil activity, thereby counteracting the exacerbation of lung inflammation caused by ARDS.
The research study, published in the European Respiratory Journal on Thursday, focused on the role of basophils in lung health and recovery. The findings suggest that basophils play a crucial role in resolving lung injury caused by ARDS. Blocking basophil function or IL-4 in mice led to prolonged lung inflammation and worsened ARDS symptoms, emphasising the critical role of basophils in resolving lung injury.
This discovery overturns previous assumptions that basophils are primarily harmful in lung conditions. Instead, they appear to aid lung repair after severe inflammation caused by conditions like pneumonia or sepsis, which trigger ARDS. With ARDS currently lacking effective drug treatments and carrying high fatality rates (30–50%), targeting basophil-mediated IL-4 pathways presents a promising new avenue for therapeutics. Such treatments could potentially accelerate recovery by modulating the immune response to reduce harmful inflammation while promoting lung healing.
The research team, led by associate professor Kensuke Miyake, observed the recovery process of ARDS in mice that exhibited ARDS-like symptoms. The study was conducted on cells, not living organisms, but mice were used for observation purposes.
The findings of the research study may lead to new treatments for lung inflammation and ARDS, offering a novel target for developing drugs that could improve outcomes in this serious respiratory syndrome.
[1] Miyake, K. et al. (2022). Basophils play a crucial role in resolving lung injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome. European Respiratory Journal, 54(4), 1-10. [2] European Lung Foundation. (2022). New research suggests basophils could aid in ARDS recovery. Retrieved from www.europeanlung.org/news/new-research-suggests-basophils-could-aid-in-ards-recovery [3] Science Daily. (2022). Basophils may hold key to treating ARDS. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220310142043.htm
- This groundbreaking study shows that basophils, not just associated with medical-conditions like atopic dermatitis and asthma, play a crucial role in health-and-wellness aspects, specifically in the resolution of lung injury caused by respiratory-conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
- The discovery of basophils' role in alleviating lung inflammation during ARDS recovery opens up a promising new avenue for the treatment of respiratory-conditions, offering potential drug targets that could improve outcomes for patients dealing with severe respiratory- syndromes like ARDS.
