When it comes to treatment of various illnesses it is not
always the case that one size fits all. Instead, it is not uncommon for
individual treatment plans to be developed to suit the affected person. A good
example of that can be seen in how individuals who have asthma often need to
find what is right for them. Yet, despite the many options available, there are
still some individuals who do not respond well to traditional treatments for
asthma. Although this is a long-standing problem, no large-scale studies have
addressed the issue to date. However, this is about to change.
Researchers from University of Adelaide School of Medicine
recently announced that they are recruiting participants for a five-year study
in Australia. The key purpose of the research is to consider the benefits of
macrolide antibiotics in the lungs of asthmatics, who (despite taking
medications), are still symptomatic. In addition to that, the same team will
conduct clinical trials on an alternative treatment for this population.
According to the researchers the current treatments target
so called eosinophil cells (white bloods cells). However, they postulate that
targeting neutrophil cells (also white blood cells) may be more suitable for
some individuals as many asthma sufferers have normal levels of eosinophil cells.
It is their hope that their research and clinical trials will illuminate this
relationship for further research to be done and new treatments to be
developed.
It is important to point out that the proposed treatment
therapy is not only appropriate where there is an infection present. Macrolide
antibiotics have anti-inflammatory properties and the use in asthma has been postulated
before in a study dating back to 2004.
We
are always a bit weary of researchers’ claims before seeing the results of any
trial. However, the scope of this project is substantial, not only in terms of
length of time but also in terms of funding. As such, it is our hope that the
research will at the very least help clarify unanswered questions regarding
cell biology in the process of asthma development and treatment. You can read
more about this study here.