Key Takeaways
- Genetics Shape Asthma Treatment – Differences in genes influence how patients respond to inhaled corticosteroids and impact asthma severity.
- One-Size Treatment Doesn’t Fit All – Personalized therapies based on genetic and microbiome variations could improve asthma management.
- Microbiome Diversity Matters – A richer microbiome may help reduce asthma risks, hinting at future treatments beyond standard corticosteroids.
Asthma might just be right up there as one of the most common respiratory diseases known to man. It affects many people around the world but there are often differences in attack intensity and severity and exacerbations. The most common therapy used is inhaled corticosteroids, and yet, the response of patients differs to this class of medications. Why exactly does this happen? This study attempts to answer that question by looking into the impact and role of genetic differences on the microbiome makeup in patients who are treated with inhaled corticosteroids.
Asthma Inhaler
There are genetic factors associated with the microbiome traits that increase the severity and intensity of asthma attacks and might exert influence on other medical conditions associated with asthma. The research sought to identify the genes and biological pathways that regulate the airway microbiome traits that are involved in asthma exacerbations and responses to inhaled corticosteroids.
Developing individualized and personalized therapeutic strategies will rely heavily on the type of microbes found in the respiratory tract during asthma attacks. Understanding the genetic factors and how they influence the differences in respiratory microbes is key to improving patient outcomes.
The Genetics-Microbiome Connection
Saliva, nasal, and pharyngeal samples from 257 European patients with asthma were analyzed by Perez-Garcia and their team for a comprehensive study of a population of asthmatic patients. The participants of this study showed variations in their responses to the inhaled corticosteroid treatments, which were strongly correlated with the variations in their genetic profiles.
This diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced and healthy respiratory system, as patients with less diverse microbiomes were more at risk of an increase in the severity of asthma attacks, even when following prescribed corticosteroid regimens.
Clinical significance
The one-size-fits-all corticosteroid approach may no longer be the dominant strategy for tackling asthmatic cases. The future might see the standard management of asthma veer towards therapy that is tailored to match each individual’s unique genetic thumbprint. Future management protocols might also incorporate some form of microbiome transplant, in a bid to increase microbiome diversity and reduce the risk of asthma complications.
FAQs: Genetics, Microbiome, and Asthma Treatment
1. Why do some people respond differently to asthma inhalers?
Genetic differences affect how the microbiome interacts with corticosteroids, influencing treatment effectiveness.
2. How does the microbiome impact asthma?
A diverse microbiome helps regulate inflammation, while a less diverse one can worsen asthma attacks.
3. Can asthma treatment be personalized?
Yes, future treatments may be tailored to genetic and microbiome profiles for better results.
4. Will corticosteroids still be used?
Yes, but they may be combined with new approaches based on a patient’s unique biology.
5. Could microbiome transplants help asthma patients?
Possibly. Boosting microbiome diversity may reduce attack severity and improve treatment response.
Related Reading:
Karolinska Institutet Researchers Create a Urine Test That Can Determine types of Asthma
Study: Microbial Compound Raises Allergy, Asthma Risk in Newborn
Asthmatics’ Urine Could Aid Development of More Effective Treatments
Conclusion
Now both the microbiome diversity and intrinsic genetic differences have been shown to be important factors in asthma management, we can expect better-targetted treatment, leading to better prognoses and outcomes and eventually to a much-decreased asthma burden. This does not mean that corticosteroids will no longer be used. They will remain a potent tool in the arsenal of the pulmonologist to be used either alone, or in combination with newer tools whenever the situation demands it.
Read Also: Study: Microbial Compound Raises Allergy, Asthma Risk in Newborn
References
Perez-Garcia, J., Espuela-Ortiz, A., Hernández-Pérez, J. M., González-Pérez, R., Poza-Guedes, P., Martin-Gonzalez, E., Eng, C., Sardón-Prado, O., Mederos-Luis, E., Corcuera-Elosegui, P., Sánchez-Machín, I., Korta-Murua, J., Villar, J., Burchard, E. G., Lorenzo-Diaz, F., & Pino-Yanes, M. (2023). Human genetics influences microbiome composition involved in asthma exacerbations despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 152(3), 799–806.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2023.05.021
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