Townsend Laboratory

Novel Therapeutics for the Treatment of Asthma

Research in the Townsend Laboratory focuses on mechanisms of ongoing inflammation and inflammation resolution of the airways following an asthma exacerbation. Viral infections are the number one cause of adult asthma exacerbations and lead to increased asthma symptoms, inflammation, and airway remodeling. Some individuals have permanent loss of lung function following an exacerbation, however there are few therapies to aid in recovery from an acute exacerbation aside from prednisone.

The immune system responds to viral infection by generating pro-inflammatory molecules, but also promotes inflammation resolution, in part, through the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators including oxylipins. We are interested in characterizing the different eicosanoids produced in asthmatic airway epithelium after infection with human rhinovirus, investigating gene regulation and epithelial remodeling as a result of viral infection, and determining the effects of the exogenous administration of pro-resolving oxylipins on the airway following a viral infection. To date, no current therapy utilizes specialized pro-resolving mediators for the treatment of asthma.

Additionally, Dr. Townsend is interested in the systemic inflammatory effects of asthma on other organ systems. Individuals with asthma are known to develop premature cardiovascular disease and obesity and insulin resistance impact asthma severity. The lung and the liver have a common embryonic origin, however, little is known about how asthma impacts the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD and MAFLD). We are working to prospectively characterize the incidence of liver fat infiltration in individuals with asthma, assess how this changes longitudinally, and how asthma exacerbations impact liver fat deposition. We are also developing a biomarker panel to characterize individuals with asthma who are at risk for developing fatty liver disease. Therapies that target inflammation resolution in the airway, may be beneficial at halting or reversing inflammation and remodeling in the liver.