“Chameleon” Immune Cells Linked To Severe Asthma

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2025 -- A set of chameleon-like immune cells could be contributing to severe asthma in some patients.

Intermediate group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) appear to be able to get around cutting-edge asthma treatments by transforming into another type of immune cell.

Targeted biologic drugs have revolutionized the treatment of severe asthma driven by eosinophils, which are white blood cells linked to ILC2s, researchers noted in a recent study in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

However, not all patients respond to these biologic drugs -- and the fact that ILC2s can transform themselves could be a reason why, researchers said.

Intermediate ILC2s share traits of both ILC2s and another type of immune cell called group 3 innate lymphoid cells, or ILC3s. ILC3s are tied to another type of white blood cell called neutrophils.

An inhaler is less likely to calm an asthma attack involving eosinophils and neutrophils, researchers said.

“When asthma is associated with both eosinophils and neutrophils cells, individuals are generally less responsive to treatment with glucocorticosteroids -- which are the mainstay of treatment for severe asthma,” researcher Dr. Parameswaran Nair said in a news release. He's chair in airway diseases at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Severe asthma that resists standard therapies is believed to affect up to 10% of people with asthma, researchers said in background notes.

“The findings from this research pave the way for discovering new therapeutic targets for difficult-to-treat asthma,” Nair said.

For this study, researchers took mucus samples from 34 people with severe asthma. They analyzed the mucus for the presence of immune cells that might play a role in making asthma tougher to treat.

They found that ILC2s are associated with higher numbers of eosinophils in mucus, while ILC3s are associated with higher amounts of neutrophils – both of which are often seen in difficult-to-treat asthma.

The ability of some ILC2s to change and take on features of ILC3s in the airways of asthma patients is a new discovery that could lead to better treatments for severe asthma, researchers said.

They also found growth factors that encourage the formation of intermediate ILC2s.

This suggests that controlling intermediate ILC2 levels could keep counts of troublesome white blood cells down, thus potentially preventing severe asthma symptoms, the team said.

Sources

  • McMaster University, news release, Jan. 15, 2025

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2025-01-23 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords