Could salmon and other fatty fish unlock new treatments for severe lung disease?
Lung inflammation and injury can quickly turn into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with pneumonia, COVID-19 and other conditions.
ARDS is a severe lung condition that affects over 200,000 Americans each year, with a 30-50% mortality rate. Current treatments mainly involve anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids, which are not always effective and increase infection risk. SUNY Empire Innovation Professor Zhenjia Wang, now at the University at Buffalo, has received a $2 million grant to explore using omega-3 fatty acids from salmon and other fatty fish as a safer and more effective treatment.
Collaborating with immunology expert Elsa Bou Ghanem, Wang plans to investigate whether the body can naturally stop inflammation using molecules derived from omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Recent studies show omega-3s convert into healing molecules called resolvins, which can calm inflammation and promote healing. Wang's hypothesis is to deliver DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a type of omega-3, into lung neutrophils using fat-based particles called liposomes.
The neutrophils would then convert DHA into resolvins that reduce inflammation and promote healing in the lungs. If successful, this approach could revolutionize the treatment of ARDS and other inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune conditions and arthritis.
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