Asthma prevention and treatment using UVB radiation-induced immunomodulation

尽管采用了昂贵的现代药物，但哮喘的发病率仍在上升。我们的研究表明，将皮肤暴露在阳光中发现的红斑剂量的UVB辐射波长下可以抑制对气道中遇到的过敏原的反应。我们正在寻求支持，以研究在小鼠剃光的背部暴露于UVB辐射可以减少过敏原暴露后气道粘膜炎症的机制。中波辐射的全身免疫调节作用先前已被描述过，但尚未与哮喘的发展有科学联系。这是一个非常新颖的研究领域，它支持了一个世纪以来的轶事报道，即海滩和山区度假胜地增加UVB暴露对哮喘治疗有益。这是一个原理证明研究。如果我们能够证实UVB具有免疫调节作用，并更好地了解UVB抑制气道炎症的机制，我们将研究非致癌的、UVB诱导的、皮肤衍生的中间分子是否具有相同的调节作用。

The prevalence of asthma is increasing despite the adoption of modern expensive drugs. Our studies suggest that exposure of skin to an erythemal dose of the wavelengths of UVB radiation found in sunlight can suppress responses to allergens encountered in the airways. We are requesting support to study the mechanisms in mice by which exposure to UVB radiation on their shaved backs can reduce inflammation in the airway mucosa upon allergen exposure. Whole body immunomodulatory effects of UVB radiation have been previously described but have not been scientifically linked with asthma development. This is a very new and novel research area which supports century-old anecdotal reports that holidays at beach and mountain resorts associated with increased UVB exposure are beneficial in asthma treatment. This is a proof of principle study. If we can confirm that UVB is immunomodulatory and better understand the mechanisms by which UVB suppresses inflammation in the airways, we will investigate the potential of non-carcinogenic, UVB-induced, skin-derived intermediary molecules to have the same regulatory effects.