Search

Meta-analysis identifies seven susceptibility loci involved in the atopic march

Eczema often precedes the development of asthma in a disease course called the 'atopic march'.

The effect of diesel exhaust exposure on blood-brain barrier integrity and function in a murine model

Epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) is associated with vascular-based disorders.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies ten loci influencing allergic sensitization

Allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (present in allergic sensitization) has a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic disease.

CF Awareness Month

Information about cystic fibrosis awareness month and CF research at The Kids

The mechanism of deep inspiration-induced bronchoprotection: Evidence from a mouse model

In healthy individuals, deep inspirations (DIs) taken prior to a bronchial challenge reduce the bronchoconstrictor response, which is termed...

Soy Biodiesel Exhaust is More Toxic than Mineral Diesel Exhaust in Primary Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Exposure to biodiesel exhaust resulted in significantly greater cell death and a greater release of immune mediators compared to both air controls and ULSD exhaust

Alpha-1 antitrypsin mitigates the inhibition of airway epithelial cell repair by neutrophil elastase

Free NE activity is deleterious for epithelial homeostasis and support the hypothesis that proteases in the airway contribute to CF structural lung disease

ACE2 expression is elevated in airway epithelial cells from older and male healthy individuals but reduced in asthma

COVID-19 is complicated by acute lung injury, and death in some individuals. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2 that requires the ACE2 receptor and serine proteases to enter AEC. We determined what factors are associated with ACE2 expression particularly in patients with asthma and COPD. We obtained lower AEC from 145 people from two independent cohorts, aged 2-89 years, Newcastle (n = 115) and Perth (n = 30), Australia. The Newcastle cohort was enriched with people with asthma (n = 37) and COPD (n = 38). Gene expression for ACE2 and other genes potentially associated with SARS-CoV-2 cell entry was assessed by qPCR, and protein expression was confirmed with immunohistochemistry on endobronchial biopsies and cultured AEC.

Bacteriophage: A new therapeutic player to combat neutrophilic inflammation in chronic airway diseases

Persistent respiratory bacterial infections are a clinical burden in several chronic inflammatory airway diseases and are often associated with neutrophil infiltration into the lungs. Following recruitment, dysregulated neutrophil effector functions such as increased granule release and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) result in damage to airway tissue, contributing to the progression of lung disease.

Elke Seppanen

Program Manager