New research into antiviral proteins could reduce asthma attacks
14 August 2006

A study jointly funded by Asthma UK has found why colds can make people with asthma more likely to have a severe asthma attack, and its findings could lead to a new way of preventing asthma attacks.

Researchers from the MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma found that low levels of antiviral proteins, which usually act as the lung cells’ first line of defence, are responsible for making people with asthma more likely to have a severe attack if they catch a respiratory virus such as a common cold.

The findings could lead to a new method of asthma treatment, as boosting the levels of these proteins could protect people with asthma from having an attack as a result of a cold. In a recent Asthma UK survey 90% of people said colds and flu triggered their asthma.

The research team, led by Professor Sebastian Johnston and based at Imperial College London, tested cells from the lungs of volunteers with and without asthma. They found that when the people with asthma were infected with a common cold virus (a rhinovirus), their lung cells produced half the usual levels of a new type of ‘interferon’ – a protein with antiviral properties generated by the immune system. The lower the level of antiviral protein produced, the more severe the asthma symptoms experienced.

Uncovering this link could lead to a new way of treating or preventing asthma attacks, as inhalers could be developed to get extra interferon directly to the lungs to help the immune system fight viral infection, suggest researchers.

‘Delivery of the deficient interferons by inhalers could be an ideal way to treat and prevent severe attacks of asthma, potentially vastly improving the quality of life for many asthma patients,’ said Professor Sebastian Johnston.

‘We are already going into trials testing safety of delivering interferon by inhalation in asthma, and intend to take this new technology forward swiftly to improve the medication available to people with asthma.’

Professor Tak Lee, Director of the MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, added: ‘This important finding paves the way for developing new approaches to prevention and treatment.’

Asthma UK also welcomed the new research. ‘At present, no specific treatment is available to help fight virally induced asthma attacks,’ commented Dr Lyn Smurthwaite, Asthma UK’s Research Development Manager.

‘Asthma UK is delighted to have funded this breakthrough in understanding why people with asthma can be so badly affected by respiratory infections, as it is an important step towards developing a suitable treatment.’