The magazine of the european research area European Commission Copenhagen, a missed chance?

IN BRIEF

22 research

*

eu No. 63 | APRIL 2010

perfectly with the observations, 

leading the authors to state that 

we need to look elsewhere for 

proof of the existence of dark 

matter.

  www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de

www.tu-dortmund.de

Cells that counteract 

asthma

A team of researchers from 

the Applied Genoproteomics 

Interdisciplinary Group (GIGA) 

of the University of Liege (BE), 

led by biologist and veterinarian 

Fabrice Bureau, has found, in the 

lungs of mice, cells that are able 

to prevent asthmatic reactions. 

These cells, which are regulatory 

macrophages, are associated with 

the dendritic cells in the lungs, 

which serve to present antigens 

to the T lymphocytes in the lymph 

nodes. It would seem that regula-

tory macrophages detect the 

antigens we constantly inhale 

and the concomitant immuno-

stimulatory molecules, thus 

preventing the migration of 

dendritic cells to the lymph 

nodes and hence the reaction 

of the immune system to these 

harmless allergens.  

The immune response which 

asthma sufferers develop against 

airborne allergens is redundant 

and even harmful. Each exposure 

to these allergens reactivates 

the immune system of the lungs, 

leading to a narrowing of the 

airways and poor oxygenation. 

The researchers therefore are 

tending to associate the develop-

ment of asthma with a deficiency 

of regulatory macrophages at 

a certain point in a person’s life.