|
| Emphysema Retinoic Acid |
Question:
What's the story about retinoic acid being able to cure emphysema?
Answer:
A form of vitamin A could one day provide the basis for a cure for the smoking
disease emphysema.
British researchers have found that retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A,
can cure the disease in mice.
The researchers bred mice with all the hallmarks of emphysema.
By the time these mice were adults they had serious breathing problems and
their lungs were unable to exchange gases effectively.
When these mice were given retinoic acid, the number and size of the tiny air
sacs in the lungs returned to normal. Their lungs exchanged gases more
effectively and they were able to breathe more easily.
The researchers believe that retinoic acid triggers key genes into action,
enabling the tiny air sacs to recover.
While further studies are needed, this research raises hopes that retinoic acid
could form the basis of a cure for emphysema.
|
|
