Asthma Inflammation Research

More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, and nearly half of asthma sufferers do not
have their asthma under control. Although commonly diagnosed using physiological measures of
airflow and bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma pathophysiology is related to chronic
inflammation of the airway.

Current diagnostic evaluation and monitoring are inadequate for proposed practice guidelines.
The most commonly used test for evaluation of asthma is the measurement of airflow
obstruction by spirometry. The National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP) and
Expert Panel Reports set forth grading of asthma severity based on the frequency of symptoms,
airflow, and the need for inhaled beta-agonists. Practice guidelines outline that the goals
of therapy for asthma are to: maintain normal activity with near normal parameters of lung
function, prevent exacerbations that lead to tissue injury, and avoid medication toxicity. In
order to facilitate these goals, NAEPP defines key components for management including
disease monitoring and stepped care pharmacotherapy. Unfortunately, there is no optimal plan
for monitoring inflammation, which causes us to fail in key components in management of
asthma. Limited options for anti-inflammatory treatments to control asthma likewise often
lead to substantial morbidities due to treatment with high doses of corticosteroids. Our AIR
program plans to develop novel asthma monitoring tests and design targeted therapeutics,
which altogether may reduce toxicities and improve the long-term health of patients.

Impact on broad scientific advancement. Our cumulative studies provide fundamental
information on the molecular mechanisms that contribute to unresolving and excessive
inflammation that leads to tissue remodeling. This mechanistic knowledge is of broad
scientific importance as nearly all chronic human diseases are defined by prolonged and
active inflammation, with tissue destruction, and failed attempts at healing. Thus, our
investigations will provide comprehensive knowledge and consequent translational deliverables
that may be widely applicable as diagnostic strategies and therapies in other chronic
inflammatory diseases.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Asthma diagnosed by a medical specialist and/or history of positive methacholine rest
and/or reversibility of >10% of FEV1

- FEV1 is within acceptable limits

- Informed Consent is present

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diabetes (fasting blood sugar >110 mg/dL)

- Any milk allergies

- Coconut allergies

- BMI >40 kg/m2,

- Inability to maintain diet intervention

- Current smoking or smoking history of greater than 10 pack-years

- Any other significant respiratory or cardiac disease or the presence of clinically
important comorbidities, including, uncontrolled coronary artery disease, acute or and
chronic renal failure