This New Therapeutic Approach Could Be a Big Leap in Treating Severe Asthma

In an article published in Cell Metabolism, it was announced that the new immunotherapy drug group used in the treatment of immune system diseases such as psoriasis can also be used for asthma.

Janus kinase inhibitors, also known as JAK inhibitors or jakinib, are a type of drug that functions by inhibiting the activity of one or more of the Janus kinase family of enzymes, thereby interfering with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. These pharmaceuticals are also known as “jakinib” and play an important role in the body’s immune response by activating cytokines that cause inflammation.

However, in asthma cases, JAK1 protein appears in the lung due to different inflammatory etiologies, also known as Cytokine Storm Syndrome (CSS). It can lead to irresistibly severe systemic inflammation, hemodynamic instability, multiple organ failure, and potentially fatal disease.

Researchers at Trinity University in Ireland said it is possible to suppress this immune response by inhibiting JAK1.

They tested a molecule

In the study, the human and animal JAK1 inhibitor is based on a metabolite called itaconate, which has a role in changing the behavior of white blood cells. The study revealed that itaconate, which is produced naturally in our body, and one of its derivatives, 4-octyl itaconate, cannot trigger cytokine storms by turning off the JAK1 protein.

“We tested a molecule called 4-OI, which is based on itaconate, and it was able to suppress severe asthma in a model of the disease which doesn’t respond to anti-inflammatory steroids,” said immunologist Marah Runtsch.

Treating severe asthma

“We have high hopes that new medicines based on Itaconate could well have potential as a wholly new therapeutic approach for treating severe asthma, where there is a pressing need for new treatments.”

The JAK1 protein contains many asthma-related cytokines. Preclinical studies also show that if the JAK1 protein is suppressed, the cytokine response will also decrease and airway inflammations will become less frequent.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are also gradually learning to make jakinib more specific and more effective for conditions like arthritis. Asthma cases are also included as the next area of ​​study.

Meanwhile, with the newly developed 3D visualization technique, the functioning of blood vessels is seen much more clearly. To know more about it, you can read this piece.