A recent study conducted by Imperial College London suggests that natural killer cells, which have been shown to eliminate cancerous cells and cells that have been affected by viruses, may cause airways to become inflamed, thus exacerbating asthma symptoms.
According to the Imperial College London website, researchers found that mice whose natural killer cells were switched off didn't experience negative reactions that are characteristic of asthma.
"Natural killer cells are thought to be important for killing cancer cells and virus-infected cells. Our study suggests that they're key players in asthma as well, which is unexpected," said Dr. Fiona Culley, the study's lead author, in a press statement. "There's a real need for new asthma treatments. If more studies confirm that natural killer cells are important in asthma in humans, they could be a new target for drugs."
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics reveal that there are 18.9 million adults and 7.1 million children in the United States alone who have been diagnosed with asthma. The disease can range from mild to severe, meaning that it's imperative for people who suffer from it to seek medical treatment and take any drugs that have been prescribed to them.
Additionally, it's a good idea for asthmatics to limit their exposure to irritants such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, tobacco smoke and mold, which can exacerbate symptoms and cause them to have an asthma attack.
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