Newborns: New findings on the treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia
A study by the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Leipzig University Medical Center has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a severe malformation that is fatal in about a third of affected newborns due to underdeveloped lungs. The findings, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, show that inflammatory cells, especially macrophages, play a central role in lung underdevelopment before and after birth.
The congenital diaphragmatic hernia is characterized by a hole in the diaphragm that is surgically closed in the first week of life. Despite successful operations, pulmonary hypoplasia remains a complication that is difficult to treat and often leads to death. The Leipzig researchers investigated how inflammatory processes influence lung development and identified overactive signaling pathways of the immune system and the macrophage migration factor as possible influencing factors.
Using modern research methods such as proteomics, microscopic analyses and bioinformatics evaluations, the researchers were able to confirm parallels between animal models and human samples. These findings, developed in collaboration with researchers from Mannheim, Paris, Winnipeg and Boston, lay the foundation for future drug therapies. The aim is to develop anti-inflammatory substances that could be used prenatally to promote lung development and improve the chances of survival of affected children.
The Leipzig research team plans to test anti-inflammatory substances in animal models and on the patient’s own stem cells as part of a DFG-funded program in order to enable long-term clinical studies. The results suggest that a targeted reduction of inflammation during pregnancy could have a positive effect on lung development.
Original Paper:
Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR
Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.
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