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UH scientists Hawaii researchers have discovered the mechanism responsible for such common ailments as allergies and asthma and they're working with two pharmaceutical companies on drugs to control it.
find asthma,
allergy key
They're working with
two companies on drugs
to take advantage of itBy Helen Altonn
Star-BulletinFindings of the team, led by Dr. Reinhold Penner, are reported in this week's issue of the journal Nature.
The scientists represent the Center for Biomedical Research at The Queen's Medical Center and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.
They found that an immune cell responds when stimulated continuously by an immune-signaling molecule known as IP4.
They've applied for a National Institutes of Health grant for continued molecular studies and screening for drugs to treat common immune-system problems.
Asthma is one of Hawaii's major chronic health problems and a leading cause of school absences.
When immune cells are hit by pollen, they cause people's first symptoms, such as reddishness, sneezing and runny noses, Penner said. They stimulate a second molecule or signaling messenger called IP3 that increases briefly and is quickly removed by the cell. An enzyme called 3-kinase adds a phosphate to IP3 that produces the molecule IP4, Penner said.
"The important thing is IP3 normally will stimulate the cells and that brings about ... all the events that normally will take place to combat external infection invasions, etc."
When IP3 is replaced by IP4, a stimulus occurs, making the cells respond vigorously, Penner said.
"And that really makes a big difference to people who are hypersensitive, who overreact even to low levels of pollen."
If IP4 production can be suppressed through medication, it may alleviate symptoms associated with asthma, allergies and other immune diseases, he said.
Penner and Andrea Fleig direct the UH Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Signaling established by Queen's and UH. It is moving to Queen's, where Penner has been named research director.
"Our researchers are on the cutting edge of scientific discovery," said Arthur Ushijima, Queen's president and chief executive officer. "The honor of being published in this prestigious journal, Nature, indicates that research under way at Queen's and the university is equivalent to institutions across the nation."
University of Hawaii
