Researchers revealed that a protein known as Piezo1 stops allergens from hyperactivating a kind of immune cell in the lungs. The work implies that activating Piezo1 could be a new therapeutic approach to lowering lung inflammation and treating allergic asthma.
Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (also known as ILC2s) are immunological cells found in the lungs, skin, and other parts of the body. When allergens enter the lungs, ILC2s activate and create proinflammatory signals that drive the recruitment of other immune cells. Unchecked, this can lead to excessive inflammation.
Findings of the researchers from University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine were published in journal of Experimental Medicine.