Researchers at LMB, lead by Dr Andrew McKenzie, have discovered a novel cell type that could lead to the development of new treatments for asthma, a disease that affects the lives of 5.4 million people in the UK.
The new cells, named nuocytes, are a key early source of Interleukin 13 (IL-13), a crucial immune chemical in the asthma response. Thus, nuocytes represent a previously missing link in the critical immune pathway that is turned on during asthma attacks.