Title: Breakthrough Research Identifies Protein LMAN1 as Key Player in Allergic Asthma
Subtitle: UCF researcher awarded $1.5M grant for potential game-changing treatment approach
Date: June 20, 2023
For those suffering from allergies, especially allergic asthma, springtime can be dreadful. Fortunately, UCF researcher Dr. Justine Tigno-Aranjuez is making breakthroughs that could one day make many common allergies a thing of the past.
In a recent study published in Cell Reports, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez and her team identified a previously unrecognized protein called LMAN1 that binds with common allergens to cause inflammatory reactions in allergic asthma. This groundbreaking discovery has the potential to redefine the treatment approach for allergic asthma and improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Traditionally, research and therapies for allergic asthma have focused on targeting the inflammatory cytokines in the body that react to allergens and cause symptoms such as mucus overproduction, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. However, these treatments often come into play after the airway inflammation has already begun.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez took a different approach by utilizing a technique called LRC-TriCEPS to identify receptors in cells for a common allergen, house dust mite. Through this technology, she discovered that LMAN1, a protein previously known as a cargo receptor involved in transporting proteins inside and outside cells, plays a crucial role in the body’s allergen response.
The research showed that LMAN1 and house dust mite allergens can bind together on the cell surface, triggering the inflammatory or allergic reaction. Importantly, the binding process depends on specific mannose sugar structures on the allergens. This finding is significant because many other common allergens, including pollen and fungi, are mannosylated, meaning they are modified by the addition of mannose sugars.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez believes that LMAN1 could be a broad receptor that recognizes many different allergens, not just limited to dust mites. This potential broad-spectrum discovery opens up new possibilities for developing more effective and universal treatments for allergic asthma.
Recognizing the significance of this research, the National Institutes of Health has awarded Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez a $1.5M R01 grant to further investigate the role of LMAN1 in the expression of other mannosylated allergens. This grant will enable her team to explore the potential of LMAN1 as a therapeutic target for a wide range of allergens.
Collaborating with the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez’s research on LMAN1 has already garnered attention from experts in the field. Dr. Bin Zhang, an Associate Professor at the Lerner Research Institute, emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of this research, as it reveals an entirely new function of LMAN1 as a receptor to bring allergens from outside of cells to the inside. This discovery could pave the way for a new pathway of treatment for allergic asthma.
With hundreds of thousands of allergic asthma cases in the United States alone, and many more worldwide, this research represents a significant step forward in helping patients with this chronic condition. While there are already existing treatments for asthma, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez highlights the need for more options and improvements in current therapies. Many treatments have limitations, such as specific clinical criteria, high costs, or lack of insurance coverage. A potential universal treatment like LMAN1-targeted therapy could address these challenges and provide a more effective solution for a broader range of patients.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez and her team are now conducting further research to confirm their hypothesis that LMAN1 also recognizes other mannosylated allergens, such as pollen. If their hypothesis holds true, this discovery could have broad implications for future therapies targeting many of the most common allergens.
Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez’s journey in research began when she immigrated to the United States from the Philippines to pursue her graduate and postdoctoral training at Case Western University in Cleveland. Since joining UCF in 2015, she has focused her research on immune signaling pathways involved in chronic inflammatory diseases like asthma and Crohn’s disease.
The groundbreaking research on LMAN1 and its role in allergic asthma brings hope to millions of individuals suffering from this condition. With continued investigation and support from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez’s work could revolutionize the treatment approach for allergic asthma and improve the quality of life for patients worldwide.
Reference:
“LMAN1 is a receptor for house dust mite allergens” by Madelyn H. Miller, Lindsay G. Swaby, Vanessa S. Vailoces, Maggie LaFratta, Yuan Zhang, Xiang Zhu, Dorilyn J. Hitchcock, Travis J. Jewett, Bin Zhang, and Justine T. Tigno-Aranjuez, Cell Reports, March 3, 2023, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112208
frontiers in allergy impact factor
The identification of LMAN1 as a key player in allergic asthma holds immense potential in transforming the treatment approach for this condition. By targeting the binding of LMAN1 with allergens, it may be possible to prevent the inflammatory reactions that lead to symptoms such as mucus overproduction, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
This breakthrough research conducted by Dr. Justine Tigno-Aranjuez and her team at UCF has shed light on the previously unrecognized role of LMAN1 in allergic asthma. Through the use of the LRC-TriCEPS technique, they discovered that LMAN1, a protein known for its involvement in protein transport, plays a crucial role in the body’s response to allergens.
The study revealed that LMAN1 can bind with common allergens, such as house dust mites, on the cell surface, triggering an inflammatory or allergic reaction. The binding process relies on specific mannose sugar structures on the allergens, which are also present in other common allergens like pollen and fungi. This suggests that LMAN1 could be a broad receptor capable of recognizing a wide range of allergens.
The potential of LMAN1 as a therapeutic target for allergic asthma has gained recognition from the National Institutes of Health, which has awarded Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez a $1.5M R01 grant to further investigate the role of LMAN1 in the expression of other mannosylated allergens. This grant will facilitate further research on LMAN1 and its potential as a universal treatment option for allergic asthma.
Collaborating with the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Tigno-Aranjuez’s research has already attracted attention and recognition from experts in the field. Dr. Bin Zhang, an Associate Professor at the Lerner Research Institute, highlights the groundbreaking nature of this research, as it reveals a completely new function of LMAN1 as a receptor for bringing allergens from outside of cells to the inside. This discovery opens up new possibilities for developing novel treatments for allergic asthma.
Given the high prevalence of allergic asthma worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of cases in the United States alone, the identification of LMAN1 as a key player in allergic asthma offers hope for improved treatment options. By targeting LMAN1, it may be possible to prevent the inflammatory reactions caused by allergens, leading to better management of allergic asthma and improved quality of life for millions of individuals.
This groundbreaking protein discovery brings hope to asthma patients, as it holds the potential to completely transform allergy treatment. Exciting times ahead in the world of medical research!