Peter J. Barnes talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper in the field of
Immunology.
Article Title: Immunology of asthma and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Barnes,
PJ
Journal: NAT REV IMMUNOL
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Page: 183-192
Year: MAR 2008
* Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Natl
Heart & Lung Inst, Dovehouse St, London SW3 6LY,
England.
* Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Natl
Heart & Lung Inst, London SW3 6LY, England.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are amongst the
most prevalent diseases in the world and both are increasing, especially in
developing countries. In both diseases, there is a chronic inflammation
that is orchestrated by immune mechanisms and recent research has shone a
light onto the immunological mechanisms involved.
"We have identified the molecular
pathways leading to this glucocorticoid
resistance and have found new ways of
reversing it, which may provide a novel
therapeutic approach to severe inflammatory
diseases of many types in the
future."
The paper is highly cited as it brings together much of this new research
in a single review and compares and contrasts these two common airway
diseases. This is a review that represents a distillation of new knowledge
on this topic.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper in
layman's terms?
This review brings together a lot of new research into the underlying
immune mechanisms of asthma and COPD, which are amongst the commonest
diseases in the world.
How did you become involved in this research, and were
there any problems along the way?
I have been working in the field of asthma and COPD research for 30 years.
Over the past 20 years, I have been the most-cited researcher in the world
in the field of respiratory medicine.
My research involves studying the underlying inflammatory mechanisms of
asthma and COPD in order to better understand the disease process and to
identify novel targets for the development of new treatments in the future.
The major problem in this field is the relative lack of research funding.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
Now that several novel pathways have been identified in asthma and COPD,
there is optimism for the development of more effective therapies. This is
especially needed for treatment of severe asthma and COPD, which do not
respond well to glucocorticoids.
We have identified the molecular pathways leading to this glucocorticoid
resistance and have found new ways of reversing it, which may provide a
novel therapeutic approach to severe inflammatory diseases of many types in
the future.
Do you foresee any social or political implications for
your research?
Since asthma and COPD are quite common, this has obvious social and
political implications, particularly in view of the large amount of
healthcare spending currently being devoted to these diseases, which are
currently incurable.
Professor Peter J. Barnes, DM, DSc, FRCP, FMedSci, FRS
Head of Respiratory Medicine
Imperial College London
Airway Disease Section
National Heart & Lung Institute
London, UK Web