Pulmonary inflammation

Prof Rakesh Kumar, A/Prof Paul Thomas

The major theme of the research in this group is the study of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of asthma, and the application of these findings to clinical disease. Current research areas include the mechanisms of inflammatory cell recruitment, airway hyper-reactivity and airway wall remodeling and corresponding indicators of these changes in man. The investigators provide complementary expertise, facilitating the study of both clinical disease and a unique animal experimental model.

Specific projects include: a clinical and in vitro study of airway epithelial cell- and mast cell-derived nitric oxide (NO) as a marker of inflammation following allergen challenge, together with investigation of the mechanisms that trigger its production; and animal experimental studies of the mechanisms underlying inflammation, airway wall remodeling and hyper reactivity in an inhalational exposure model of chronic asthma and acute exacerbations, as well as of potential therapeutic interventions.

Highlights of the research studies in 2008 have included:

• papers on steroid-resistant inflammation in acute severe asthma and on the effects of drug therapy on expression of inflammatory mediators in chronic asthma
• review articles on mouse models of asthma and on targeting eosinophils in asthma
• award of new NHMRC funding, now focusing on mechanisms of acute severe asthma (The role of pulmonary macrophages in the pathogenesis of an acute exacerbation of chronic asthma [R.K. Kumar, N.Tedla, 2007-2009])
• new data on the contribution of T-lymphocytes to the development of acute severe asthma (submitted for publication)
• new data on the interaction between early-life viral infection and allergen challenge in the development of childhood asthma (submitted for publication)
• appointment of Professor Kumar to the Editorial Advisory Board of Inflammation & Allergy – Drug Targets