Research Highlights
Development of Atopy and Asthma
A main focus of the research programs in the Division of Allergy and Immunology is to identify the molecules and genes, which have a role in the development of atopy and asthma, and to dissect the mechanisms by which the genes lead to the disease phenotype.
Atopic disorders, including asthma and allergic rhinitis, are very prevalent in the general population. In a recent report on the surveillance for asthma by the National Center for Health Statistics, the authors found that asthma prevalence rates and asthma death rates are increasing nationally. Although it is clear that both genetic and environmental influences play a role in the development of these common disorders, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms which underlie the development of allergic inflammatory conditions.
Asthma and other atopic conditions have their origins in early life. If children can be identified early in the course of their disease or even prior to onset of the disease through genetic markers, it is possible that environmental interventions or aggressive medical therapy may delay the onset or prevent the progression of the disease process.
Clinical Research
There are several clinical research programs underway in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. These include trial of anti-cytokine therapeutics (e.g. humanized anti-human IL-5 for eosinophilic esphagitis), and phase II-IV studies. In addition, we have a major translational research program focused on allergic diseases aimed to elucidate genetic-environmental interactions for the development of atopy and the molecular mechanisms for eosinophil-associated mucosal inflammation.
The Division of Allergy and Immunology research program focuses on defining the molecular basis underlying the development and exacerbation of diseases including asthma, food allergy and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, and hypereosinophilic syndrome (chronic eosinophilic leukemia). The group has developed an array of innovative experimental animal (murine) models of allergic diseases to define the contribution of cytokines, receptors, chemokines, inflammatory cells including eosinophils, CD4+ T-cells and mast cells in the pathophysiological manifestations of allergic diseases. For example, Dr. Simon Hogan’s laboratory recently reported a novel mouse model of oral antigen hypersensitivity allowing him to define an essential role for mast cells and the cytokine interleukin-9 in gastrointestinal allergy. (Forbes, E. E. et al. IL-9- and mast cell-mediated intestinal permeability predisposes to oral antigen hypersensitivity. J. Exp. Med. 31 March 2008 [doi:10.1084/jem.20071046])
For more information about the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, please call 513-803-0257, or send an e-mail to AllergyResearch@cchmc.org.
