In a new study, researchers from the University of Technology in Sydney and the University Hospital in Ghent, Belgium, discovered a new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), targeting and inhibiting a protein called RIPK 1. The results were published online on 22 December 2022 with the title "RIPK1 kinase-dependent inflammation and cell death contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD".
COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and has no effective treatment. It is a chronic lung disease, also known as emphysema (emphysema). It is characterized by airway inflammation and blockage, as well as lung damage that causes dyspnea.
In this new study, these authors found increased levels of the protein RIPK 1 in the lungs of COPD patients, as well as in experimental mouse models of COPD. Inhibition of RIPK 1 helps to prevent COPD and may represent a novel therapeutic approach.
Co-corresponding author and Director of the Inflammation Center of the University of Technology Sydney Philip M. Professor Hansbro said the main risk factor for COPD is smoking, but the disease can also be caused by dust inhalation, smoke, chemicals and air pollution.
Professor Hansbro said, " Cigarette smoke or exposure to other irritants can trigger inflammation and induce cell death in the lungs and airways, which directly leads to the production of COPD. We investigated RIPK 1 because it plays critical roles in cell survival and death as well as inflammation. We found that RIPK 1 levels were much higher in COPD patients, as well as in our COPD mouse model.”
These authors subsequently examined the mouse models of COPD and found that RIPK 1 inhibition had a clear protective effect against COPD. Professor Hansbro said, " We observed fewer structural changes in the airways and less damage to the air bags in the lungs. Our data suggest that inhibition of RIPK 1 reduces inflammation and cell death of healthy lung cells and airway cells, implicating overall reduced tissue damage.”
Given that COPD is an incurable and often fatal lung disease, the authors say their findings provide an exciting new research avenue for treating COPD, the authors say.
