Genetic basis for asthma symptoms' severity found
Genetic basis for asthma symptoms' severity found
A new study has identified a genetic basis for how severe a patient's asthma symptoms are, it has been revealed.Research published in Nature Immunology has found a molecular tipping point that determines whether or not an individual experiences a mild or serious version of the condition.
It is hoped that this new finding results in the development of future therapeutic strategies that can produce a better asthma treatment.
Dr Marsha Wills-Karp, director of the Cincinnati Children's division of immunobiology and senior investigator for the study, found that pro-inflammatory protein interleukin-17 could be the chief culprit behind asthma symptoms.
She said: "This study suggests that at some point it may be possible to treat or prevent severe forms of asthma by inhibiting pathways that drive the production of IL-17A."
According to the Asthma Society of Ireland, there could be anywhere up to 470,000 people in the country who suffer from asthma – which puts it fourth in the world asthma league, after Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
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