Lung Health News, Spring / Summer 2003
A way UC Davis researcher thinks it is possible that inflammation in the lungs could one day be treated with hormone therapy. While a long off from the basic research Ana Corbacho, Ph.D., is conducting, the role of hormones like prolactin has not been widely explored and could lead to important discoveries.
"The role of prolactin hasn’t been looked at very deeply in the respiratory system," says Corbacho, a researcher funded through the American Lung Association of California’s research program. "I’m trying to understand the basics of how hormones interact in lung physiology and impact the inflammatory immune process."
Inflammation in the lungs causes the airways to restrict, making it difficult to breathe. Inflammation is the response to lung injury and normally its purpose is to repair and restore the injured tissue.
"I have previous data indicating that prolactin can regulate the production of inflammatory mediators," Corbacho says. "Now I am trying to find if that really occurs during inflammatory processes in the lung."
Research Holds Key to Better Treatments
People with lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema could benefit from new therapies for reducing inflammation. Current medications for people with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and emphysema include inhaled bronchodiolators and corticosteroids, which work to keep the airways open. But there are also unwanted side-effects.
"Basic research is the key to understanding the mechanisms behind disease," says Guy Soo Hoo, MD, co-chair of the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund Committee and chair of the American Lung Association of California’s Research Committee. "In the long-term, it will result in better treatments for respiratory diseases such as asthma, lung cancer and cystic fibrosis."
Line 61 is Your Direct Line to Fund Lung Research
The Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund on the 2002 state income tax form is an easy way to donate to lung disease research. You just write in the amount you want to donate on Line 61 under Contributions, and then add it to your payment or deduct it from your refund. The money will go to the American Lung Association of California’s research program and will allow the association to increase the number of research projects it funds every year. For more information visit www.californialung.org.
