Blood test for asthma could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment

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Scientists at Rutgers Health have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform how asthma is diagnosed and monitored.

They found that a simple blood test measuring levels of a molecule called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) could diagnose asthma and determine its severity.

This finding could significantly improve care for people with asthma, especially children and those living in areas with limited healthcare access.

The study, soon to be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, revealed that people with asthma have much higher levels of cAMP in their blood—sometimes up to 1,000 times higher—than those without the condition.

This molecule is produced in airway smooth muscle cells and plays a key role in regulating the airways. However, the team discovered that a specific protein, or transporter, in these cells allows cAMP to “leak” into the bloodstream.

“For years, scientists thought an enzyme called phosphodiesterase was responsible for reducing cAMP levels,” explained Dr. Reynold Panettieri, a senior author of the study and vice chancellor at Rutgers University.

“Now we understand that this transporter is the real cause of cAMP leaking out. This discovery changes how we view the role of cAMP in asthma.”

Asthma affects about 1 in 20 Americans, with even higher rates in urban areas. Diagnosing the disease typically requires advanced lung function tests, which are difficult to perform, especially in young children.

Dr. Panettieri noted that this blood test could provide a much simpler alternative. “Kids under five often can’t complete lung function tests, but a pinprick blood test could make diagnosing asthma in young children much easier,” he said.

In their study, researchers analyzed blood samples from 87 people with asthma and 273 people without asthma. They consistently found elevated cAMP levels in asthma patients. What’s more, these levels correlated with how severe their asthma was.

This suggests that the test could also be used to monitor a patient’s condition over time, giving doctors a new way to track progress and adjust treatment.

This discovery has significant implications for urban communities, where asthma is particularly common. “In cities, about 1 in 15 people has asthma. It’s one of the main reasons children end up in emergency rooms,” Panettieri said. A quick and easy test could make diagnosing and treating asthma more accessible in these areas.

The research team is now collaborating with companies to develop a practical version of the blood test for use in doctors’ offices.

While their first attempts to create a simple, pregnancy-style test weren’t sensitive enough, they’re now working on a more advanced version using fluorescent markers. Dr. Panettieri believes the test could be ready within a year or two.

In addition to diagnosing asthma, this discovery could lead to better treatments. Current asthma medications, like albuterol, work by increasing cAMP levels in airway smooth muscle cells, helping to relax the airways.

By targeting the newly discovered transporter that causes cAMP to leak, future treatments might prevent its loss, making these medications even more effective.

The team’s next steps involve studying larger groups of asthma patients to better understand how cAMP levels vary among different subtypes of the disease. “Asthma isn’t one single condition,” Panettieri explained. “

It has many forms, and each patient’s experience is unique. By identifying which patients have the highest cAMP levels, we can create more personalized treatments.”

Despite the availability of effective medications like inhaled steroids and bronchodilators, asthma remains poorly controlled for many patients.

This blood test could help doctors identify those who need more aggressive treatment and monitor how well therapies are working. With further research, it may also uncover new ways to improve care for asthma patients worldwide.

This discovery represents a major step forward in asthma care, offering hope for faster diagnoses, better treatments, and improved quality of life for millions of people living with this condition.

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The research findings can be found in Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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