Researchers are testing biodegradable particles designed to induce allergen tolerance without the need for broad immunosuppressive medications.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
Nanoparticle delivery: Researchers are developing biodegradable nanoparticles engineered to carry allergens and reprogram immune cell metabolism, which may help the body build tolerance without compromising the entire immune system.
Targeted immune retraining: The therapy aims to harness crosstalk between the innate and adaptive immune systems to induce specific responses in adaptive immune cells, offering a potential alternative to systemic steroids.
Preclinical evaluation: Supported by an American Lung Association Innovation Award, the team will evaluate the inhaled nanoparticle-based approach in test-tube studies and mouse models to measure improvements in airway resistance and lung function.
A research team at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) is developing a new class of asthma treatments designed to retrain the immune system rather than suppress it, according to a report from the American Lung Association.
Led by Ryan M Pearson, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the Bio- and Nano-Technology Center at UMSOP, the team is testing a new approach using custom-designed, biodegradable nanoparticles to target and reprogram immune cell metabolism. These nanoparticles are engineered to carry allergens, which may help the body build tolerance by reducing harmful immune responses without compromising the entire immune system.
“We aim to develop a therapy that specifically retrains the immune system so it can become tolerant of specific allergens that cause a person’s asthma symptoms, without leading to immunosuppression,” said Ryan M Pearson, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, in a news release. “Our therapy has been designed to target the root cause of asthma in order to create a long-term disease-modifying alternative to lifelong symptom management.”
Pearson, a chemical engineer with experience in biomedical engineering and immunology, received an American Lung Association Innovation Award to fund the research. The strategy aims to restore balance in the lungs by using the body’s natural metabolic processes to prevent and treat asthma more safely.
The research focuses on the crosstalk between the innate and adaptive immune systems. While the innate immune response provides a non-specific immediate reaction to injury, the adaptive immune response creates memory cells. Upon re-exposure to an allergen, these cells can become overactive, leading to airway inflammation, mucus overproduction, and the “twitchy” airways characteristic of asthma.
“We are trying to harness the crosstalk between the innate and adaptive immune systems,” said Ryan M Pearson, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, in a news release. “We want to control asthma by using nanoparticles to induce specific responses in adaptive immune cells, instead of just suppressing the innate immune system.”
The lab will begin with test-tube studies before moving to a mouse model of asthma. Pearson is collaborating with Achsah D Keegan, an immunologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, to study lung function in mice receiving the treatment. The researchers will use specialized machinery to measure airway resistance and other breathing measures to determine if the nanoparticle therapy improves lung function.
The project aims to eventually develop an inhaled nanoparticle-based medication. “This could really herald a new asthma therapy that no one has ever worked on before,” said Ryan M Pearson, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, in a news release. “It could pave the way for personalized therapies that boost tolerance for many allergens and reduce allergic responses. This would improve the quality of life for people with asthma.”
Pearson noted that the research could have implications beyond asthma, potentially leading to more precise therapies for other lung-related and immune-related conditions. The support from the American Lung Association allows the team to leverage fundamental discoveries to develop improved treatments for the healthcare industry.