UC study identifies molecule that could improve asthma treatments
Researcher cites personal experience for passion for the project
Researchers are passionate about their fields of study for a variety of reasons. For Satish Madala, his focus on asthma is deeply personal.
“This is my ‘close to heart’ project because I came to this research area mainly because of my childhood asthma,” says Madala, PhD, of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. “When I would ride my bike on the streets with my friends and I had diesel exhaust exposure, I had an asthma attack. I always wondered why my friends were fine and I was not. ‘What’s wrong with my lungs?’ I wondered.”
Satish Madala, PhD, in the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the UC College of Medicine/Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Asthma is a common chronic airway inflammatory disease that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Madala headed up a team of researchers at UC and Cincinnati Children’s on a study that identified a new molecule that plays a role in asthma and could be targeted for treatment in the future.
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
“The study has implications beyond asthma because it is looking at what happens in a smooth muscle cell which is present around our airways, blood vessels and other organs,” Madala says. “Every tube structure that we have in our body is built up with the smooth muscles.”
Madala says this paper used asthma as a disease model where significantly increased levels of the studied molecule were found in smooth muscle cells of the airways in animal models with allergic asthma.
Further investigation revealed that common asthma-associated cytokines could directly trigger this increase in both human and animal airway smooth muscle cells. These cells play a crucial role in airway constriction or the narrowing of the airways. Intriguingly, blocking that one specific molecule through genetic manipulation in animals led to a significant reduction in the narrowing of airways without affecting other key asthma features like inflammation and mucus production. This suggests that targeting that molecule could offer a novel approach to treating airway obstruction without impacting other aspects of the disease.
“Our findings identify a distinct pathway contributing to airway hyperresponsiveness, independent of classic inflammatory processes,” explains Madala, senior author of the study. “At this point, there is a lot more research that needs to be done to see how this new molecule is performing its function in increasing the calcium elevation in the smooth muscle cells making those cells contract more aggressively. If that interaction or process can be interrupted, then probably we can reduce how violently these smooth muscle cells react in these airways. If this is the one that can be manipulated and mitigated to cause that increase, then it can provide a great health care outcome.”
This discovery opens exciting possibilities for developing more effective and specific therapies for improving lung function, a major challenge for many asthma patients.
Satish Madala, PhD
"It’s important to note that this is early-stage research, and further studies are needed to confirm these findings in humans and explore the safety and efficacy of targeting [the molecule] for asthma treatment,” cautions Madala. “However, this discovery opens exciting possibilities for developing more effective and specific therapies for improving lung function, a major challenge for many asthma patients.”
For graduate student and study co-author, Santhoshi Akkenapally, this project has sharpened her passion for research, particularly in this area.
“Being part of this research team has been an incredible learning experience,” says Akkenepally, a student researcher who contributed to the study. “Seeing firsthand how basic science research can unlock the secrets of complex diseases like asthma is truly inspiring. I'm excited to see where this discovery leads and the potential impact it could have on millions of people living with asthma.”
She says this study amplified her dreams and the quest to lead scientific programs and conquer diseases like asthma.
“I’ll try my level best,” she says.
Lead photo of Madala and Akkenapally/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's graduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
President picks exceptional talent
April 28, 2021
The University of Cincinnati 2021 Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence Awards honor six undergraduate scholars for scholarship, leadership, character, service and the ideals of the university. Awardees are spotlighted for exceptional academics, creativity, community service and innovation.
Grad students earn president's highest honor
April 28, 2021
The University of Cincinnati 2021 Presidential Medal of Graduate Student Excellence Awards honor three graduate scholars for scholarship, leadership, character, service and the ideals of the university. Awardees are spotlighted for exceptional academics, creativity, community service and innovation.
Local 12: 180 UC med students receive white coats, students embark on journey during pandemic
August 9, 2021
The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine welcomed 180 newly admitted first-year students during the college’s 26th annual White Coat Ceremony. The ceremony was held Friday at 10 a.m. at Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street. Each member of the class of 2025 were presented with a white lab coat, symbolizing entry into the medical profession. Local 12 covered the event.
GIVEHOPE and BSI Engineering Celebrate Ten Years of Driving Research
August 3, 2021
Years after two personal losses from pancreatic cancer, Cincinnati-based nonprofit GIVEHOPE and consulting firm BSI Engineering are celebrating a philanthropic partnership that has funded 13 pilot research projects at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center.
Finding community and building a future
July 9, 2021
As a University of Cincinnati College of Medicine student, Sarah Appeadu, MD, ’21, remembers journaling on the “3 Cs” that got her through medical school: Community, community, community. Now, when she lists the people who supported her through four years of training—the last year in a global pandemic—it keeps growing: her family, her church, her classmates, and the college’s Office of Student Affairs and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “I look back and it was such a crucial time to really be nurtured in that way,” she says. “I’m so thankful that I had those people. It shows being around the right people really mattered. That’s my same hope for residency even.”
UC to honor 2,079 grads at summer Commencement
August 2, 2021
UC celebrates the 2021 summer Commencement on Friday in two ceremonies at Fifth Third Arena. On Saturday, UC will recognize 2020 grads with an in-person Commencement celebration.
New York Times: Flint Weighs Scope of Harm to Children Caused by Lead in Water
February 1, 2016
Kim Dietrich, a professor of environmental health at UC's College of Medicine, is quoted in this story on the medical problems that could develop among the thousands of young children exposed to lead-contaminated water in Flint, Mich.
Cancer-Causing Gene Found in Plasma May Help Predict Outcomes for Patients
February 18, 2016
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered that a human cancer-causing gene, called DEK, can be detected in the plasma of head and neck cancer patients.
UC Receives $1.9 Million to Study Pain
February 15, 2016
Jun-Ming Zhang, MD, of the UC College of Medicine, is the principal investigator of a $1.95 million grant to study the interacting roles of the sympathetic and sensory nervous and immune systems in back and neuropathic pain models.
MD Magazine: Generic Drug Equally Effective in Epilespy
February 22, 2016
Michael Privitera, MD, a professor of neurology at UC's College of Medicine and director of the Epilepsy Center at the UC Neuroscience Institute, is featured in this story about research he led that examined the efficacy of generic drug substitution for epilepsy.