While it is known that differentiated myofibroblasts produce excessive collagens, which accumulate in tissues and cause hardening, the mechanisms involved in these processes are largely unknown. In a recent study, Kyushu University scientists aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms by which matrix stiffness increases fibrosis-related gene expression in myofibroblasts.
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen has identified histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, small cell and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Lung Therapeutics Inc. has divulged conjugates comprising epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) blockers (particularly, amiloride and benzamil) covalently linked to peptides to retain in lung tissues reported to be useful for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, pulmonary emphysema, pneumonia and bronchiectasis.
Scientists from Sichuan University and affiliated organizations have discovered a new signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, being developed as a potential therapeutic candidate against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide hormone found predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract and throughout the central nervous system (CNS), and which has been also shown to stimulate the secretion of calcitonin, insulin and glucagon and to act as a natriuretic kidney peptide. Researchers from Harvard University and affiliated organizations aimed to assess the function of CCK in obesity-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and asthma.
Researchers at the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology’s Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and Pulmobiotics Ltd. have used one bacterium to fight another. In mouse models, the team used engineered Mycoplasma pneumoniae to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the chief culprit in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor for chemerin and resolvin E1 that plays a key role in the recruitment and activation of macrophages, natural killer cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in inflammatory diseases.
After comparing the response to the two types of vaccines for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) based on its fusion protein (F), prefusion (pre-F) versus postfusion (post-F) vaccines, scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Astrazeneca plc have demonstrated that targeting the pre-F protein led to better protection. No more bets on RSV immunization based on the post-F protein of the virus. Laboratories can now bet all on red for the pre-F technology.
Genentech Inc. has disclosed 2,8-diazaspiro [4.5] decane compounds acting as serine/threonine-protein kinase LATS1 and/or LATS2 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Research at Azcuris Co. Ltd. has led to the development of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)/cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2; TSLPR) interaction inhibitors, which are reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis.
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