Uncovering Immune Irregularities in Asthma
Researchers at Columbia University have identified significant immune system abnormalities in the lymph nodes near the intestines of individuals who died from severe asthma attacks. Analyzing tissue samples from 695 donors collected between 2012 and 2025, the team discovered elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) alongside distinct immune alterations in both the lungs and lymph nodes associated with fatal asthma. These findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Study Overview and Participant Groups
The comprehensive study included 695 organ donors categorized as follows:
- 41 individuals who died during an asthma attack;
- 78 donors diagnosed with asthma but deceased due to other causes;
- 576 donors without an asthma diagnosis.
All donors who succumbed to asthma exhibited heightened IgE levels. Their lungs showed increased populations of type 2 helper T cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells, and mast cells. Meanwhile, the lung-adjacent lymph nodes contained fewer regulatory T cells, which typically help control immune responses.
Interestingly, memory T and B cells accumulated earlier in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in asthma patients compared to those without the condition. Moreover, immune cell patterns in the lungs more closely corresponded with responses in lymph nodes near the intestines specifically in fatal asthma cases.
“What surprised us most was the precise location where the strongest immune abnormalities emerged,” said Yunsin Lee.
Lee emphasized that the study reveals associations rather than direct cause-and-effect relationships.
It is important to note that data regarding corticosteroid use among donors was unavailable, and only a single immune tissue sample was obtained from each donor. Despite these limitations, the research offers promising new insights into the immune mechanisms underlying fatal asthma and paves the way for further investigation into immune dysfunction in this disease.
These discoveries hold potential to influence future asthma and immunology research significantly. The link between immune changes and lymph nodes near the gut opens new avenues for developing targeted treatments. Moving forward, studies focusing on causal relationships will be critical to validate these preliminary findings and translate them into effective asthma therapies.