PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Researchers discover why steroid treatment for COPD is ineffective

Findings offer potential new drug target for COPD therapy

2011-10-19
(Press-News.org) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to persistent inflammation of the airways and is typically managed with corticosteroids, a class of anti-inflammatory medication. However, corticosteroids do not improve survival nor alter the progression of COPD and may reduce lung symptoms as little as 20 percent. A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found why corticosteroids do not work well for COPD patients and how additional treatment with sulforaphane—an ingredient of broccoli and other vegetables—can improve the effectiveness of corticosteroids. The study was published online October 17, 2011, in advance of print in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

COPD is a major public health problem for both the developed and the developing world, and is most often caused by cigarette smoking or exposure to pollutants from combustion. Characterized by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and affects 24 million Americans and 210 million people worldwide.

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) is critical component in a chain of reactions that enable corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. However, HDAC2 is substantially reduced in the lung tissue of individuals with COPD. In the study, Johns Hopkins researchers found that S-nitrosylation causes HDAC2 dysfunction and leads to corticosteroid insensitivity in the alveolar macrophages of the lungs of individuals with COPD. S-nitrosylation of HDAC2 occurs from exposure to cigarette smoke, a primary cause of COPD.

"This study provides the mechanism of exaggerated inflammation observed in COPD patients during exacerbations, which has been a barrier to developing effective therapy," said Rajesh Thimmulappa, PhD co-author of the study and an assistant scientist in the Bloomberg School's Department of Environmental Health Sciences.

Furthermore, the research team found that treatment with sulforaphane restored HDAC2 activity and corticosteroid sensitivity. Previous studies by the research team showed sulforaphane activates the Nrf2 pathway (nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2) and it is being tested in clinical trial for patients with COPD.

"Restoring corticosteroid sensitivity in patients with COPD by targeting the Nrf2 pathway holds promise for effectively treating exacerbations," said Shyam Biswal, PhD, senior author of the study and professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

INFORMATION:

Authors of "Denitrosylation of HDAC2 by Targeting Nrf2 Restores Glucocorticosteriod Sensitivity in Macrophages from COPD Patient" are Deepti Malhotra, Rajesh Thimmulappa, Nicolas Mercado, Kazuhiro Ito, Ponvijay Kombairaju, Sarvesh Kumar, Jinfang Ma, David Feller-Kopman, Robert Wise, Peter Barnes and Shyam Biswal.

Funding for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Environmental Health and the Grace Anne Dorney fund for tobacco-related disease research.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

NJ Status of Same-Sex Marriages, Domestic Partnerships and Civil Unions

2011-10-19
The law regarding same-sex couples and marital status is beginning to change rapidly in many parts of the country. New Jersey has been no exception. In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed a domestic partnership law. In 2007, it enacted a law allowing civil unions. New Jersey also recognizes same-sex marriages performed out-of-state. Gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey today can choose whether to register their domestic partnership to receive some of the rights and obligations of marriage or apply for a civil union license to receive substantially all the rights ...

From tropics to poles: Study reveals diversity of life in soils

From tropics to poles: Study reveals diversity of life in soils
2011-10-19
Microscopic animals that live in soils are as diverse in the tropical forests of Costa Rica as they are in the arid grasslands of Kenya, or the tundra and boreal forests of Alaska and Sweden. That conclusion is found in research results published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists have generally accepted that a wider range of species can be found above ground at the equator than at the Earth's poles. But this study proves for the first time that the same rules don't apply to the nematodes, mites and springtails living ...

Columbia SC Hotel Provides Nearby Lodging to The American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter 2011 Conference

2011-10-19
The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Columbia SC (Northeast) offers convenient lodging to architects attending the AIASC 2011 Fall Conference. The event will take place October 20-22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The conference is open to members of the American Institute of Architects - South Carolina Chapter. The group is comprised of over 900 people including licensed architects, emerging professionals and allied partners who are committed to excellence in design and livability for South Carolina's buildings and communities. The AIASC Conference workshop ...

Fatal crashes in the US: Fewer Canadian drivers under the influence

2011-10-19
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy and Columbia University finds alcohol-related fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. are much lower among drivers with Canadian licenses than drivers with U.S. or Mexican licenses. The prevalence of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes was 27 percent for both U.S. and Mexican drivers, and 11 percent for Canadian drivers. Similarly, alcohol impairment was found in 23 percent of U.S. and Mexican drivers and 8 percent of Canadian drivers involved in a fatal crash. Research from other countries ...

Leading ATL Airport Hotel Offers Great Rates for Government Employees

2011-10-19
The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel (North I-85) is offering special savings rates for government and military employees to enjoy. Guests with a valid Government ID are eligible to receive great rates. As always, hotel guests will enjoy: - Complimentary hot breakfast - Free high-speed Internet access - Clean & fresh Hampton bed The capital of Georgia, Atlanta is home to many state government organizations, various international embassies and consulates, and the Federal Reverse Bank of Atlanta. In addition, Atlanta is located approximately 90 miles ...

Whether we know it or not, we can 'see' through 1 eye at a time

2011-10-19
Although portions of the visible world come in through one eye only, the brain instantaneously takes all that information and creates a coherent image. As far as we know, we "see" with both eyes at once. Now a new study suggests that the brain may know which eye is receiving information—and can turn around and tell that eye to work even harder. "We have demonstrated for the first time that you can pay attention through one eye, even when you have no idea where the image is coming from," says Peng Zhang, who conducted the study with University of Minnesota colleagues Yi ...

Forgetting is part of remembering

2011-10-19
It's time for forgetting to get some respect, says Ben Storm, author of a new article on memory in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. "We need to rethink how we're talking about forgetting and realize that under some conditions it actually does play an important role in the function of memory," says Storm, who is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Memory is difficult. Thinking is difficult," Storm says. Memories and associations accumulate rapidly. "These things could completely overrun ...

Expanding HIV treatment for discordant couples could significantly reduce global HIV epidemic

2011-10-19
October 17, 2011—A new study uses a mathematical model to predict the potential impact of expanding treatment to discordant couples on controlling the global HIV epidemic-- in these couples one partner has HIV infection and the other does not. The research conducted at ICAP at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior at University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) is the first to predict the effect of the expansion of such treatment in couples on the HIV epidemic in certain African countries. In ...

Boots Treat Street Launches New Trolley Dash App on Android and iPhone OS

2011-10-19
Boots Treat Street shoppers can now download the new fun, free Trolley Dash app game, available to download from the Apple Store and the Android Market. Dave Robinson, Head of Partnership Marketing at Boots UK, commented: "We're delighted to launch Boots first web app and provide Advantage Card holders with a fun way to find out more about the Boots Treat Street shopping portal. We know our customers enjoy shopping and we're sure they'll enjoying playing with our app too." Users can take a stroll down the pretty pastel coloured street, passing favourite ...

'Generation Squeezed': Today's family staggering under the pressure

2011-10-19
Canadian parents today are raising families with less money and time than the Baby Boomer generation even though the country's economy has doubled in size since 1976, says a new study released at the University of Saskatchewan today by Paul Kershaw, a family policy expert from the University of British Columbia. "What we're seeing is something I call 'Generation Squeeze,'" Kershaw says. "The generation raising young kids today is squeezed for time at home, squeezed for income because of the high cost of housing, and squeezed for services like child care that would help ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Researchers discover why steroid treatment for COPD is ineffective
Findings offer potential new drug target for COPD therapy