A protein once thought to merely suppress gene activity has now been revealed as a key driver of asthma-related inflammation — a discovery that could reshape how scientists approach treatment for the estimated 262 million people worldwide living with the disease.
Researchers at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism involving a protein called CBX7, which they found becomes activated after exposure to allergens and helps sustain the immune system signaling that contributes to allergic asthma. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, offer a promising new avenue for developing more targeted therapies.
"We found that CBX7 plays a much larger role in immune cell function than previously understood," said Dr. Rafeul Alam, division chief of Allergy & Clinical Immunology at National Jewish Health and senior author of the study. "This protein helps immune cells produce inflammatory molecules that are central to allergic asthma."
The research, led by Kapil Sirohi, Ph.D., revealed that CBX7 operates through a dual mechanism: it functions as a chemical messenger in the cell's cytoplasm while simultaneously relaying information to the nucleus, where it engages other transcription factors to promote cytokine production. This dual action supports a chain of molecular signals that keeps immune cells activated and inflammation sustained. When researchers reduced CBX7 activity in immune cells, they observed a significant decrease in the production of inflammatory cytokines — the key drivers of asthma-related inflammation.
The discovery is particularly significant because CBX7's inflammatory role appears to be specific to immune cells rather than airway lining cells, giving researchers a more precise understanding of where to target interventions. "Current asthma treatments focus on controlling symptoms and inflammation after it occurs," Alam noted. "Our findings identify a key molecular switch that helps initiate and sustain that inflammation, which could eventually lead to new therapeutic approaches."
While additional research is needed before these findings can be translated into patient treatments, the discovery provides important new insight into the biological processes that contribute to asthma and allergic disease. For the millions who rely on inhalers and corticosteroids to manage their symptoms, this understanding of CBX7 as a critical control point for inflammation in certain immune cells could eventually mean treatments that address the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.