Type-2 helper T (Th2) cells play intricate roles in the inflammatory response underlying asthma. Elevated levels of the protein GATA3 stimulate the maturation of these cells. Consequently, gene regions known as enhancers, which enhance the expression of the GATA3 gene, have been implicated in asthma-associated inflammation.
A study has revealed that the enhancer region G900 may be pivotal in the inflammatory response mediated by Th2 cells, offering clues for new therapeutic strategies. Asthma patients experience respiratory distress due to allergens like house dust mites or pollen. However, the various triggers for asthma share a common pathway involving the release of proteins called type-2 cytokines by Type-2 helper T (Th2) cells and group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s).
Both Th2 and ILC2 require high amounts of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) for their maturation. Specific gene sequences called enhancers are responsible for elevating the expression of GATA3 genes in humans. Studies have found that by controlling the production of GATA3, enhancers influence the development of Th2 and ILC2.
The gene region G900, located close to the GATA3 gene, is currently being investigated for its role in the asthma inflammation pathway. In a recent breakthrough, a study by researchers from Chiba University that was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA on 24 June 2024, has discovered that the mouse gene region corresponding to the human G900 is involved in Th2.
