Can we prevent lung damage caused by our own immune system?

When our lungs are invaded by things like viruses and bacteria, our immune system sends white blood cells to the site which ‘eat’ and destroy the invaders. Unfortunately, the weapons that white blood cells use to kill bacteria can sometimes also damage our own lung tissue. This damage can cause diseases like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and bronchiectasis. At the moment, this process is not well understood and we have no strategies for preventing it.

Dr Stephens and his team have been studying a protein in the lungs called 'RhoG'. They found that mice who don't have the protein are perfectly able to fight infections from things like bacteria, but do not experience any associated lung damage. This clearly suggests that RhoG is involved in the process that damages lung tissue.This research aims to understand how our immune system attacks the lungs in this way.In so doing the researchers will make advances to prevent such damage.

Amount awarded: £ 119,753
Relevant disease area(s): ARDS, bronchiectasis
Relevant age group(s): All