Feb. 1, 2011 Researchers at National Jewish Health have
discovered a signaling pathway that is crucial to the
devastating effects of acute lung injury (ALI). The data,
obtained from cells, animals and ALI patients, suggest several
potential therapeutic targets. Experimental blockade of one of
the targets significantly reduced flooding of the lungs that is
the hallmark of ALI. "Acute lung injury is a devastating
disease, with 40 percent mortality and no beneficial therapies,"
said first author James Finigan, MD, Assistant Professor of
Medicine at National Jewish Health. "Our study identifies
several promising targets for therapy, including HER2, which is
already targeted by existing breast-cancer medications." About
200,000 people in the United States suffer acute lung injury
(ALI) every year. It is caused by either direct injury to the
lungs or as a result of other conditions, often pneumonia or
systemic infection. In ALI, large amounts of protein-rich fluid
flow from the capillaries into the lungs, leading t