A new study has identified a key protein found in lung tissue that could be used to develop treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Researchers from Australia and the USA discovered that the protein called SAA was found in high quantities in the lungs of people with COPD and asthma.
The findings showed that the protein, which is usually found in the liver, plays a key role in lung damage and inflammation and also prevents the body’s natural efforts to help the lung repair.
The discovery could lead to the development of a treatment which prevents the protein from behaving in this damaging way and by providing an artificial version of healing agent to help the body repair the lung.