While chronic asthma can be managed with various treatments, unfortunately, there is no cure for this lung disease. However, a recent discovery of a surprising cause of asthma may hold the key to changing that. The process known as cell extrusion, which drives the turnover of epithelial lung cells, plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy lining in the airways. This process involves the replication of epithelial cells, leading to overcrowding and increased pressure between the cells. In response to this crowding, weaker cells are ejected from the layer, ultimately leading to their demise. This mechanism has long been suspected to be linked to asthma, a condition that affects millions worldwide and claims the lives of thousands daily. Despite previous focus on other triggers, recent research has shed light on the potential role of cell extrusion in asthma development. The traditional understanding of asthma as a result of muscle constriction or inflammation in the airways has been challenged by new insights into the impact of cell overcrowding on lung health. By examining damaged lung linings in asthma patients, cell biologist Jody Rosenblatt made a groundbreaking connection between cell extrusion and asthma attacks. Could the pressure from a single asthma episode set off a dangerous cycle of cell death, lung damage, and future attacks?
2024-05-10 10:30:00
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