Strategy for depleting immune cells implicated in asthma-associated inflammation – Science Daily

Strategy for depleting immune cells implicated in asthma-associated inflammation
Science Daily
Patients with asthma have chronic lung inflammation that results in sporadic narrowing of the airways and difficulty breathing. Symptoms and severity are variable among individuals; however, the cells and inflammatory factors that trigger asthmatic

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Differential gene network analysis for the identification of asthma-associated therapeutic targets in allergen-specific T-helper memory responses.

Differential gene network analysis for the identification of asthma-associated therapeutic targets in allergen-specific T-helper memory responses.

BMC Med Genomics. 2016;9(1):9

Authors: Troy NM, Hollams EM, Holt PG, Bosco A

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asthma is strongly associated with allergic sensitization, but the mechanisms that determine why only a subset of atopics develop asthma are not well understood. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that variations in allergen-driven CD4 T cell responses are associated with susceptibility to expression of asthma symptoms.
METHODS: The study population consisted of house dust mite (HDM) sensitized atopics with current asthma (n?=?22), HDM-sensitized atopics without current asthma (n?=?26), and HDM-nonsensitized controls (n?=?24). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these groups were cultured in the presence or absence of HDM extract for 24 h. CD4 T cells were then isolated by immunomagnetic separation, and gene expression patterns were profiled on microarrays.
RESULTS: Differential network analysis of HDM-induced CD4 T cell responses in sensitized atopics with or without asthma unveiled a cohort of asthma-associated genes that escaped detection by more conventional data analysis techniques. These asthma-associated genes were enriched for targets of STAT6 signaling, and they were nested within a larger coexpression module comprising 406 genes. Upstream regulator analysis suggested that this module was driven primarily by IL-2, IL-4, and TNF signaling; reconstruction of the wiring diagram of the module revealed a series of hub genes involved in inflammation (IL-1B, NFkB, STAT1, STAT3), apoptosis (BCL2, MYC), and regulatory T cells (IL-2Ra, FoxP3). Finally, we identified several negative regulators of asthmatic CD4 T cell responses to allergens (e.g. IL-10, type I interferons, microRNAs, drugs, metabolites), and these represent logical candidates for therapeutic intervention.
CONCLUSION: Differential network analysis of allergen-induced CD4 T cell responses can unmask covert disease-associated genes and pin point novel therapeutic targets.

PMID: 26922672 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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NIH-Funded Scientists Identify Receptor for Asthma-Associated Virus – Infection Control Today

NIH-Funded Scientists Identify Receptor for Asthma-Associated Virus
Infection Control Today
Scientists funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have identified a cellular receptor for rhinovirus C, a cold-causing virus that is strongly associated with severe asthma

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Genomewide Study Finds Asthma-Associated Genes, One Specific to Childhood Onset – Medscape


TheMedGuru

Genomewide Study Finds Asthma-Associated Genes, One Specific to Childhood Onset
Medscape
September 23, 2010 — A genomewide association study has identified several variants associated with asthma throughout the life cycle but found only a
Genetic clue to asthma triggersNHS Choices
Asthma comes first, not allergy, study findsSydney Morning Herald
Asthma yields up some of its secrets to gene researchersNature.com (blog)
Examiner.com –HealthCanal.com –BusinessWeek
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