TCD makes asthma breakthrough

RESEARCHERS have made a major scientific breakthrough that could lead to new therapies for the treatment of asthma and other allergies.

Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered a way of switching off a protein involved in driving immune responses frequently associated with allergies and other immune conditions.

The research group, led by Smurfit Professor of Medical Genetics, Seamus Martin, has just published its findings in internationally renowned peer-reviewed cell press journal, Immunity.

Using an enzyme that can cut proteins very selectively, the team, along with another Trinity research group led by Dr Ed Lavelle, discovered a way of switching off the activity of the protein IL-33.

The protein may be overproduced in certain immune conditions, such as allergies and asthma and finding a means of deactivating it may prove to be beneficial to sufferers of allergies and other chronic immune conditions.

“This discovery sheds new light on how IL-33 operates within the immune system and presents us with a unique way of switching off a molecule that may contribute to hyperactivation of the immune systems in individuals that produce excess amounts of this protein,” said Prof Martin.

He said they were very grateful for the support of Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board who funded the research.

“This work represents an excellent example of how basic research can lead to very practical applications,” he said.

The work was carried out at TCD’s Departments of Genetics and Immunology.

The TCD research team is internationally recognised for its work on cell death and immunology.