Asthma is an incredibly common disease that’s usually managed by treating the symptoms. But new research shows a potential way to target a root cause of the disease, with a molecule preventing structural changes in the airways of asthmatic mice and all but eliminating their symptoms in weeks.
Asthma is triggered by inhaled allergens like dust mites, which can cause inflammatory reactions that constrict the airways and impair a person’s breathing. These acute symptoms can be managed with inhaled relievers and corticosteroid drugs, but longer term issues can arise from a process called airway remodeling, for which there are no treatment options.
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During the reaction to the allergens, stem cells known as pericytes move to the surface of the airways, where they begin to develop into other cells that over time make the airways thicker. That further restricts a person’s breathing and can lead to chronic symptoms like shortness of breath and wheezing.
Read more: New Atlas
