News from Molecular Medicine

Posted By: Anonymous | Posted On: May 19,2010 18:30 pm | View: 8 Cystic Fibrosis (CF) continues to challenge scientists. There is growing evidence that increases in protease activity may be central to the pathogenesis of this lung disease. A team of scientists at the University of Alabama measured a common protease called MMP-9 in CF patients whose condition is stable and compared it with healthy volunteers. Previous studies have shown increases in MMP-9 in CF patients in the throes of an acute pulmonary episode. In the latest study, scientists at the University of Alabama in Birmingham reported that MMP-9 levels were also higher than normal in CF patients with no active airway inflammation. The findings may point the way to new therapeutic agents that work to reduce pathological changes. Read More: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Molecular-Medicine/cystic-fibrosis/prweb4017864.htm