'Body clock' makes drugs for treating pneumonia ineffective

A new study has revealed that drugs widely used to treat lung diseases, like asthma and pneumonia, work with the body clock, which makes them ineffective.

Scientists from The University of Manchester have found out that cells lining the lung airways have their own body clock which is the time-keeper for lung inflammation - both conditions cause swelling (inflammation) in the lungs and more severe lung inflammation happens as a result of the loss of the body clock working in these cells.

Andrew Loudon from The University of Manchester said that they have found key molecule known as CXCL5 that facilitates lung inflammation which is a key regulator of how immune cells get into tissues. The loss of CXCL5 completely prevents the time of day regulation of lung inflammation which opens up new ways to treat lung diseases.

The team also uncovered how glucocorticoid hormones from the adrenal gland are vital in controlling the level of inflammation in the cells lining the airway and concluded that the rhythm of the clock in the lining of the cells in the lungs is important for lung diseases like asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Loudon said that they have defined a major circadian control on lung inflammation which affects responses to bacterial infection or pneumonia. They know that many lung diseases indeed show a strong time of day effect, including asthma, and deaths from pneumonia.

The study was published in Nature Medicine.