New insights emerge in the search to better understand asthma
A new study led by Nepean Hospital researchers Dr Duan Ni and Professor Ralph Nanan has uncovered important insights about how the immune system may contribute to differences in asthma between population groups.
Published in medical science journal, MedComm, the research identified differences in an immune pathway called IL2-STAT5, which is known to play an important role in asthma and inflammation.
By analysing data from blood, lung tissue and immune cells, the researchers found that self-reported African American individuals with asthma showed higher activity of this immune pathway compared to other groups. The same pattern was also seen in healthy individuals, suggesting these immune differences may exist before asthma develops.
“These findings provide new insights into how immune responses linked to asthma may differ across populations,” says Professor Ralph Nanan.
“Understanding these differences may help guide future research into asthma prevention, treatment and personalised healthcare.”
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. While studies have previously shown differences in asthma rates and severity between population groups, the reasons behind these differences have remained unclear.
The researchers found that higher IL2-STAT5 activity was linked to increased activity and movement of immune cells involved in asthma-related inflammation. This may help explain why some groups experience different asthma outcomes.
The study also highlighted an important challenge in asthma research. Many publicly available datasets contained limited information about participants' racial, ethnic or ancestral backgrounds, and several population groups were underrepresented.
“Our findings highlight the importance of including diverse populations in medical research,” says Ralph.
“Greater representation will help ensure future healthcare approaches are effective and relevant for all communities.”
The findings are particularly relevant for Western Sydney, one of Australia's most culturally diverse regions, where asthma remains a significant health concern.
The research adds to growing efforts to better understand asthma and support more personalised approaches to care.
Full findings from the study are available in MedComm.