Abstract
A new approach to treating inflammation in cystic fibrosis
Violet Mukaro
PhD candidate, Discipline of Immunology, University of Adelaide and Department of Immunopathology Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service / SA Pathology
A significant proportion of children in our community are afflicted with lifelong and life threatening diseases which have an inflammatory basis. This includes cystic fibrosis which leads to destruction of the airways and lung structure. The main offender responsible for this damage is the white blood cell called the neutrophil which infiltrates the lung and releases oxygen radicals and enzymes which dissolve the tissue. These cells are brought in by hormones of the immune system called cytokines one of which called tumour necrosis factor (TNF) which is central to the development of inflammation. So this hormone has become a target for therapy in such diseases. Other approaches to these diseases have been the targeting of a protein inside the cell called p38 which is used by TNF to cause this harmful reaction. Unfortunately therapies which target these proteins have not been very successful and in fact have been quite disappointing.
Our research has unravelled a new approach to targeting the TNF-p38 axis of tissue destruction. Using small protein molecules to mimic the effects of this hormone on body responses we have identified a way of blocking the pathway which connects these two without blocking those connected to other signals in the cell that the body still needs. Small proteins called peptides have been chemically made which can be used as potential agents to stop the neutrophil infiltrates inflammation and in this manner protect against the life threatening inflammation in children with cystic fibrosis.
