Lead study investigator and Johns Hopkins infectious disease specialist Petros Karakousis, M.D., says the new animal model should hasten development of a badly needed, early diagnostic test for the condition.  Symptoms of ocular TB — vision loss, and redness and pain in the eye — are often indistinguishable from symptoms of other chronic infections and inflammatory conditions, including toxoplasmosis and sarcoidosis, which can often lead to selecting the wrong therapy. 

“TB infection can be active in the eyes even in the absence of lung symptoms,” says Karakousis, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “So, there are usually long delays in diagnosis, and by this time, it’s too late for tens of thousands of people who are already going blind due to permanent inflammatory damage to the inner lining of the eyes.”

The scenario, he noted, is especially true in the United States and Europe, where TB is far less common than in developing countries, where most of the 9 million new infections occur each year.  Most new cases in the United States occur in people whose immune systems are already depressed from co-infection with HIV and who lack access to antibiotic treatments.  Some 20 percent of people with the potentially deadly lung infection, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, develop inflammation in other organs, including in the inner tissue linings of the eye or linings surrounding the brain.

The Johns Hopkins team’s description of the animal model for ocular TB appeared in the Public Library of Science One online last week.

Karakousis says a clear and rapid test for ocular TB would not only prevent treatment delays, but also reduce the rate of misdiagnosis.  Suspected inflammatory disease, such as sarcoidosis and lupus in the eye, are treated with steroids, which can promote bacterial spread across other body organs, making the infection worse. 

Current diagnostic methods for ocular TB involve a lot of guesswork, says Karakousis.  Underlying signs of active TB in the lungs, such as positive chest X-rays and sputum samples, are helpful in making a diagnosis but often not present.  Tissue biopsy of the affected part of the eye offers more reliable confirmation of infection, but the procedure involves painful needle extraction that carries the risk of permanent eye damage, even blindness.  Physicians are often deciding to treat based on a high suspicion of TB infection, and then taking a “wait and see” approach for several weeks or months to determine if people are getting well or not.

Karakousis and his team used small, aerosolized doses of about 200 bacteria to infect each animal’s lungs, a procedure closely replicating human TB infection, which is spread when uninfected people inhale small numbers of the organisms coughed up by people already infected. Karakousis says all previous animal models for studying TB infection, in mice and in rabbits, used more than 10 times larger doses of injected tubercle organisms to eventually infect the eyes, which is not really how the disease spreads to the eyes. 

Microscopic testing of eye tissue samples showed all guinea pigs were infected with TB after two months, and that the disease spread through the bloodstream, as it does in humans.

Moreover, small, grainy nodules, a telltale sign of active TB infection, were observed in both the lungs and in the inner choroid tissue layer lining the eyes.  Some choroidal tissue death and thickening, as well as bleeding from blood vessels, were also seen — all known indicators of active TB infection in humans.

Further tissue analysis of lung and eye granulomas revealed increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, a signaling protein linked to irregular blood vessel formation and known to play a role in other vascular-related vision problems, such as blindness due to diabetes and age-related macular degeneration.

Karakousis says ophthalmologists have already had some success with VEGF antibody treatments, used in combination with standard antibiotics, to treat TB infection in the eyes and the lungs. He adds that anti-VEGF drugs could represent new therapies for ocular-TB-related disease and that VEGF levels in the eye could signal active TB infection in the eye.  the Johns Hopkins team next plans to test VEGF and other protein levels in eye fluid as possible diagnostic test markers for ocular TB.

“having a verifiable diagnostic test for ocular TB is key to picking up on active infections early and providing treatment that stands the best chance of preventing long-term damage, with our without any signs or symptoms of lung infection,” says Karakousis.  “until then, physicians will have to be aware to test for ocular TB, especially in regions like Africa and Southeast Asia where the disease remains endemic, and to listen for clues in the patient’s life history that might alert them to earlier possible TB exposure.”

TB is the leading cause of death among people co-infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and is responsible for an estimated 2 million deaths annually, including a half-million in those infected with both organisms.

Provided by Johns Hopkins University (news : web)

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: RGRX) (“the Company” or “RegeneRx”) has announced that researchers have found that a fragment of T?4 has the ability to inhibit a type of liver cell responsible for fibrosis and scar formation by blocking the binding of AKT to actin. AKT is an important enzyme that regulates cell death; actin is responsible for cell contraction and movement. the molecule responsible for this activity is a seven amino acid fragment of T?4 known to be the acting binding domain of T?4.

According to the researchers these data make possible the development of a novel therapeutic that can specifically identify and target cells responsible for the excessive scarring seen in liver diseases such as cirrhosis, as well as potential pathologies of the lungs, kidneys and other organs.

the research team was led by Dr. Marcos Rojkind of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the George Washington University School of Medicine. the research results will be reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Investigative Pathology held with the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, inc. (regenerx.com)

RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, or T?4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development and has an extensive worldwide patent portfolio covering its product candidates.

RGN-259 is a sterile, preservative-free topical eye drop for ophthalmic indications. Based on recent human clinical data, RegeneRx is currently supporting a physician-sponsored Phase 2 dry eye study with RGN-259 and has completed to animal studies showing RGN-259′s positive effects on dry eye symptoms. Previously, seven patients with non-healing corneal ulcers were treated with RGN-259 under compassionate use INDs. Five had complete healing and two had substantial healing of their wounds. three additional patients with corneal defects, called punctate keratitis, had no evidence of healing although they did report reduction in eye inflammation and increased comfort.

RGN-352 is an injectable formulation to treat cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases, as well as other medical indications. RegeneRx has successfully completed a Phase 1 clinical trial with RGN-352 in which the drug candidate was found to be safe and well-tolerated. the Company has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial at approximately 20 clinical sites in the U.S., Israel, and Russia, although this trial is currently on an FDA-imposed clinical hold. RegeneRx recently received a $3 million, three-year development grant from the NIH to support the company’s acute myocardial infarction program.

RGN-137, a topical gel formulation, is currently being evaluated by RegeneRx in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of the orphan skin disease epidermolysis bullosa. other potential uses for RGN-137 include the treatment of chronic dermal wounds and reduction of scar tissue.

Forward-Looking Statements

any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are urged to consider statements that include the words “estimate,” “will,” “may,” “potential” or the negative of those words or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include risks related to uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation the risk that our product candidates do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in current clinical trials or future non-clinical or clinical trials; risks related to our ability to obtain financing to support our operations on commercially reasonable terms; the progress, timing or success of our clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval for producing and marketing our product candidates; regulatory developments; the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets; the scope and validity of patent protection for our product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including those identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2011, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC. any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

For RegeneRx:Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, inc.Kim Golodetz, 212-838-3777kgolodetz@lhai.comorBruce Voss, 310-691-7100bvoss@lhai.com

ATLANTA, Feb. 24 (UPI) — Blood levels of a stress hormone are strongly linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in women, a team of U.S. researchers found.

A team of researchers from the Emory University School of Medicine and the University of Vermont said the findings are promising for developing blood and genetic tests to help predict whether a patient is going to be susceptible to PTSD.

The hormone — PACAP for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide — modulates central nervous system activity, metabolism, blood pressure, pain sensitivity and immune function, but it is not well understood, the researchers said.

The study, published in the journal Nature, says women who have high blood levels of PACAP display more of the symptoms of PTSD, such as difficulty discriminating between fear and safety signals and being easier to startle.

“Few biological markers have been available for PTSD or for psychiatric diseases in general,” first author Kerry Ressler of the Emory University School of Medicine said in a statement.

“These results give us a new window into the biology of PTSD. What this says is that men and women who have been traumatized may arrive at PTSD by different biological pathways.”

Baxter International inc. announced today results of a study published in this week?s issue of The Lancet that demonstrate effectiveness and tolerability of Baxter?s PREFLUCEL in protecting against seasonal influenza. The study data show nearly 80 percent protective efficacy against the influenza strains contained in the vaccine and a low adverse event profile. PREFLUCEL is manufactured using Vero cell technology, offering an innovative method of vaccine production compared to conventional embryonated chicken egg production, which has been used for decades.

Investigators studied the safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy of PREFLUCEL through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial conducted in more than 7,200 healthy volunteers in the United States during the 2008/2009 influenza season.

“Seasonal influenza claims thousands of lives every year, but can be very effectively prevented through wide-spread vaccination,? said Professor John Oxford, D.Sc., Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London. “This study provides important new information that Baxter?s Vero cell-derived seasonal vaccine is well-tolerated, immunogenic and efficacious and should be considered when planning public health preventive efforts around flu season.?  

Study results indicated that participants responded positively to the vaccine, with 78.5 percent protective efficacy against culture-confirmed influenza infection (CCII) and robust immune responses (measured as seroprotection rates) against the three viral strains contained in the vaccine: A/H1N1- (88.0%), A/H3N2- (93.3%) and B-specific (97.1%). In addition to protection, study investigators found significantly reduced duration and severity of influenza symptoms in infected subjects in the vaccinated group, as compared with the placebo group in a subsequent analysis. The vaccine was well tolerated, with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported during the trial.

“PREFLUCEL has demonstrated robust immunogenicity and protective efficacy against common circulating flu strains, and may provide an important alternative to egg-based vaccines in planning seasonal influenza prevention efforts with a shorter production timeline,? said Hartmut Ehrlich, M.D., vice president of global research and development for Baxter?s BioScience business, and senior author of the publication. “The positive developments in vaccine cell-culture technologies may help contribute to improved strain selection and more robust vaccine supplies for the growing preventive health efforts around the world.?

The study was primarily designed to determine the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing CCII with viruses that were matched to one of the strains contained in the vaccine. Trial protocol also included assessing the correlation between antibody levels and CCII protection, as well as a comparison of the safety of the vaccine versus placebo.

Vero cell technology uses the natural virus, identical in protein composition to the virus circulating in nature, instead of genetically modified virus strains that are widely used for egg-based vaccine production. The resulting vaccine is of high purity because it is free of preservatives, antibiotics and egg proteins, and is suitable for adult and elderly populations, as well as people with egg or antibiotic allergies.

PREFLUCEL is available in Austria and Czech Republic for the 2010 to 2011 influenza season. Baxter expects to receive approval of PREFLUCEL in additional countries in Europe in 2011 through a repeat Mutual Recognition Procedure (rMRP).

Clinical trials on this vaccine are being completed as part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority contract awarded in May 2006 to DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), a CSC company (NYSE:CSC).

About PREFLUCEL

PREFLUCEL is a seasonal vaccine composed of purified, inactivated split influenza virions. It is indicated for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and elderly and is the result of almost two decades of dedicated product development efforts to provide a safe and effective next-generation vaccine that can be dependably manufactured on an annual basis for each influenza season. PREFLUCEL is manufactured using Vero cell technology, Baxter?s proprietary technology platform.

PREFLUCEL clinical studies involved more than 15,000 participants, of which more than 9,000 adult and elderly participants received the vaccine. The most common undesirable effects observed were pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, myalgia and malaise.

About Baxter

Baxter International inc. (NYSE: BAX), through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. as a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning the company’s Vero cell technology and expectations with respect to the approval of PREFLUCEL in additional European countries in 2011. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; market acceptance of vaccines developed with Vero cell technology; and other risks identified in the company’s most recent filing on Form 10-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, all of which are available on the company’s website. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Photos/Multimedia?Gallery Available: businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6612824&lang=en

Latest Chronic Pain News

Study Suggests Role for Genes in Painful Disc Disorders

By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Feb. 4, 2011 — if you suffer from persistent low back pain, your genes may bear some of the blame.

Just like eye color and baldness, the likelihood of developing low back pain from disc disease may be inherited, a new study shows.

When researchers analyzed health and family history data for 2 million Utah residents, they identified 1,264 with a diagnosis of lower spine disease associated with herniated or degenerating discs. Disc disease is one of the most common causes of persistent low back pain.

People with an immediate family member, such as a parent, sibling, or child, with disc-related low back pain were more than four times more likely to have low-back pain themselves.

More modest increases in risk were associated with having a second- or even a third-degree relative with a diagnosis of herniated or degenerative disc disease.

This finding was particularly relevant because these more distant relatives were less likely than first-degree relatives to share the same environmental risk factors for low-back pain.

“While not 100% conclusive, this is very strong evidence that there is a genetic component to disc degeneration and disc herniation,” study researcher Alpesh A. Patel, MD, of Salt Lake City’s University of Utah School of Medicine, tells WebMD.

Back Pain all in the Family

Just about everyone experiences sporadic back pain at some point in their lives, but most people get better with little treatment after a few days or weeks.

Patel says it is common for complaints of persistent back pain to run in families, but the reasons for this have not been clear.

“Patients with back pain often tell me that their dad or granddad had it too, but it may be that they were in the same line of work or played the same high-impact sports,” he says.

Patel and colleagues were able to track low-back-related disease within families thanks to a unique registry known as the Utah Population Database, which contains both health and genealogic information for 2.4 million residents of the state.

One puzzling aspect of disc-related low back disease is that some people with herniated or degenerating discs suffer excruciating pain and other people experience no pain at all.

Pain Perception May be Driven by Genes

In the University of Utah study, there appeared to be a genetic component to whether disc disease caused symptoms.

“We really can’t say from this study if people who are genetically predisposed have more disc problems or if they just experience more pain,” Patel says.

A growing body of research suggests that susceptibility to pain is inherited, although no actual pain genes have been identified, he adds.

Back surgeon Daryll C. Dykes, MD, PhD, tells WebMD that he is not surprised by the findings from the Utah study.

Dykes is a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a surgeon with the Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis.

“We have had strong suspicions that genes are a factor in low back pain, but we haven’t had good scientific studies to back that up,” he says.

He says people with a family history of low back pain can lower their risk by maintaining a healthy weight, performing cardiovascular and core strengthening exercises, and not smoking.

SOURCES: Patel, A. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, published online Feb. 2, 2011.Alpesh A. Patel, MD, department of orthopaedics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.Daryll C. Dykes, MD, PhD, orthopaedic surgeon, Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis; spokesman, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.News release, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.©2011 WebMD, LLC. all Rights Reserved.

As a storm soaked Las Vegas, 74-year-old Ada Graham sat in the office of Dr. John Varras and explained why she thought her blood pressure was a tad high.

"It’s probably because I couldn’t get my dogs to go out in the rain this morning," she told Varras, her primary care doctor and the interim chair of internal medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. "Normally, they like the water, but I was having to fight with them. I couldn’t get them off the patio."

A diabetic, Graham visits Varras at his West Charleston Boulevard office every three months to make sure her diabetes is being managed. she gives him a log of blood glucose tests she has given herself.

"you look like you’re doing pretty well, so we’ll decrease some of your medication," Varras said, smiling. "Let’s hope it stops raining for your blood pressure. we just want to stay on top of everything."

Stay on top of everything to stay healthy. Varras says that a lot, particularly to older adults who are more at risk for health problems. While Graham’s diabetic condition means she must be extra vigilant, Varras also tells older adults who appear to be in good condition that an annual physical isn’t enough.

"you have to communicate with your doctor, don’t put it off," he said.

Regular health screenings, he said, are meant for the healthy older adult without symptoms of a disease. It’s a way of fighting off the top three causes of death — heart attack, cancer and stroke — in men and women 65 and older. Screenings also can prevent debilitating illnesses if problems are caught soon enough and treated, he noted.

With baby boomers now quickly moving into the 65 and older age group and sure to increase the percentage of people in that demographic from the current 12 percent in the Las Vegas Valley, Varras ran down a list of the most important tests, health screenings and vaccinations to keep their later years as healthy as possible.

? Skin cancer test: Years or a lifetime of being out in Nevada’s scorching sun means skin cancer is a real threat. in fact, Dr. Cheryl Brewer, of the Nevada Cancer Institute, calls skin cancer "common" among Nevadans and urges people to do monthly checks regarding the size, texture, color or shape of a mole, freckle or spot. Doctors say a visit to a dermatologist for a whole-body check is a good idea to make sure existing skin conditions are OK and to identify anything that is suspicious and needs further evaluation. After that an annual skin cancer checkup is wise, unless previous skin cancers mean you must be seen more frequently.

? Colonoscopy: The whole bowel irrigation that precedes this test never makes it a favorite screening tool of patients. And some doctors, including gastroenterologist Dr. Julian Lopez, believe some Southern Nevadans have put it off because they are fearful of infection after the hepatitis C outbreak that arose two years ago at Dr. Dipak Desai’s clinics. But the procedure, which is largely safe as long as medical practitioners follow infection prevention guidelines, has been proven to be a test that can identify polyps early so they can be removed.

Varras said guidelines call for a first colonoscopy around age 50 with one every 10 years afterward. Brewer noted that an individual with severe health conditions may find the test too strenuous, where the risk of screening for cancer can outweigh the benefits.

? Blood work: An annual check of blood pressure, cholesterol and fasting glucose should be done at a minimum, Varras said. Depending on a patient’s condition, a primary care doctor may also include checks for hormone levels, liver enzymes and electrolytes.

Asymptomatic people, Varras said, can be identified for increased risk of cardiovascular disease through an annual screening of blood pressure and cholesterol measurements.

? Eye exam: After age 50, because of the increased risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, the American Academy of Opthamology recommends a yearly eye exam, said Dr. Don Havins, of the Westfield Eye Center in Las Vegas. Diabetics may need more frequent exams, Havins said, because they have a higher risk of eye disease.

? Vaccinations: While no one likes getting a shot, older adults can help protect themselves from getting the flu and pneumonia by getting vaccinations for both, Varras said

Pneumococcal disease can affect people of all ages, but older adults ages 65 and over are at higher risk for complications from pneumonia. More than 60,000 people in the U.S. die from pneumonia every year. Getting the shot to prevent the disease at age 65 should protect an individual for the rest of his life. The shot is safe and most people have no side effects. for maximum safety, medical officials also encourage older adults to take the flu vaccine annually. each year about 36,000 people die from the flu, with older adults dying most frequently.

Varras also believes older adults should be vaccinated against shingles, noting that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults ages 60 and older get vaccinated against shingles. The potentially debilitating illness involves mild-to-severe tingling, itching, burning, or shooting pain and is caused by the same virus that caused their chicken pox as kids.

? Bone density test: Used to determine whether a woman has osteoporosis or is at risk for the condition that can cause painful fractures, doctors say scans should begin at age 65 unless doctors believe it should be done earlier after other testing, family history and low body weight suggest otherwise. How frequently scans will be done is up to a woman’s doctor, Varras said.

? Mammogram: The American Cancer Society recommends that women should begin mammogram screening at age 40 and should continue to do so every year for as long as they are in good health. Government researchers have found, however, that the probability of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment increases dramatically for a woman between 70 and 75. The Nevada Cancer Institute’s Brewer points out that women who have a family history of breast cancer might need to start getting mammograms before age 40, or they might need to get them more often. she stressed that women should talk to their doctors about when to start and how often they should have mammograms. "There’s no one right answer," she said.

? Cervical cancer screening: Screening is recommended for older women who have not been previously screened or when information from previous screening is unavailable. Concerned that research shows that older women are disproportionately likely to have false-positive diagnoses, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routinely screening women older than age 65 for cervical cancer if they have had adequate recent screening with normal Pap smears and are not otherwise at high risk for cervical cancer.

Though difficult to define "adequate recent screening," the American Cancer Society recommends that older women who have had 3 or more documented, consecutive, technically satisfactory normal or negative Pap tests, and who have had no abnormal or positive Pap tests within the past 10 years, can safely stop screening.

? PSA test: according to recently revised guidelines from the American Cancer Society, men at average risk for prostate cancer should discuss the PSA screening test with their doctor, starting at age 50. for men at high risk — blacks and men who have a father, brother or son found to have prostate cancer before age 65, that discussion should start at age 45.

"Because prostate cancer grows slowly, those men without symptoms of prostate cancer who do not have a 10-year life expectancy should not be offered testing since they are not likely to benefit," the society notes on its Web site.

Last year, two large studies found that the PSA blood test, used to screen for prostate cancer, saves few lives and leads to risky and unnecessary treatments for large numbers of men. Later, a study out of Sweden was released showing that a PSA test dramatically helped cut deaths from prostate cancer.

Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, a world renowned prostate cancer researcher who works in Las Vegas with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, still believes data show that the test, supplemented by a rectal exam, can save lives.

"It’s reasonable to get a PSA every two years,."

Vogelzang added: "if you have significant medical conditions — strokes, heart attacks etc. that would prevent you from receiving treatment for the disease, there seems little benefit to it."

? Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (AAA): Between the ages of 65 and 75, Varras said a one-time ultrasonography test is recommended, particularly if they smoked or have a first-degree relative who required repair of an AAA. An AAA is a dilation or a ballooning out of a section the aorta, the body’s largest artery.

While the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends the screening for men 65 to 75 who have smoked, it makes no recommendation for or against screening for AAA in men who have never smoked.

Though the rupture of AAA can be life-threatening in a short amount of time, it can be fairly easily prevented with treatment.

Washington, Aug 26 : Scientists say that vitamin D may be an effective therapy to treat and even prevent allergy to a common mold that can cause severe complications for patients with cystic fibrosis and asthma.

The findings are based on a study, conducted by researchers from Children”s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Aspergillus fumigatus, is one of the most common airborne molds and while it does not cause illness in the vast majority of those who inhale it, it can cause life threatening allergic symptoms in patients with cystic fibrosis. As many as 15 percent of patients with cystic fibrosis will develop a severe allergic response, known as Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). some patients with asthma also can develop ABPA. The research team, led led by Jay Kolls, a lung disease researcher at Children””s Hospital and professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, studied cystic fibrosis patients from the Antonio J. and Janet Palumbo Cystic Fibrosis Center at Children””s Hospital who had a. fumigatus infections. one group had developed ABPA, while the other hadn””t. The researchers found that the ABPA patients had a heightened response by immune cells known as type 2 T helper (Th2) cells, and that a protein known as OX40L was critical to this heightened response. The heightened Th2 response correlated with lower levels of vitamin D as compared with the non-ABPA patients. Adding vitamin D to these cells in the laboratory substantially reduced the expression of OX40L and increased the expression of other proteins critical to the development of allergen tolerance. “We found that adding vitamin D substantially reduced the production of the protein driving the allergic response and also increased production of the protein that promotes tolerance. Based on our results, we have strong rationale for a clinical trial of vitamin D to determine whether it can prevent or treat ABPA in patients with cystic fibrosis,” said Dr. Kolls. The study has been published in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.