Scientific breakthrough

Danish research team discovers a critical defect in the immune system. This discovery could lead to improved diagnostics and treatment of infectious diseases.

Infections are one of the most common causes of diseases. Most infections are cleared by the immune system or can be treated with medicine. However, some people are hampered by recurring life threatening infections – infections that response poorly to medical treatment.

A group of scientist from Rigshospitalet, Bispebjerg Hospital and the University of Copenhagen have discovered a heritable defect in the human immune system, which leads to an impaired defence against infections. This defect could help explain why some children and adults are suffering from recurrent, life threatening pneumonia and subsequent chronic lung disease. The defect is estimated to occur in 1 out of 10,000 individuals with a Caucasian background.

The discovery will be published in the 18th of June 2009 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, which is regarded as the most prestigious medical journal in the world.

The defence protein Ficolin-3
The scientists have shown that humans lacking the defence protein Ficolin-3 due to an inherited defect are not able to activate the protective mechanisms against infections. As a result, bacteria are not detected and neutralized by the immune system and waste products are not properly cleared from the body.

Previously knowledge of the role of Ficolin-3 has been scarce. But with these newly discovered results, a culmination of many years of systematic and persistent research, the scientist have now proven that the protein constitutes a critical part of the natural defence against infections.

The discovery will likely have a substantial medical and scientific impact. It will now be possible to diagnose this new type of immune defect in patients by a simple gene test or a functional Ficolin-3 test conducted on human blood. Another appealing perspective is that the treatment of patients with this inherited defect can be intensified and corrected. Furthermore, medicine that could compensate for the lack of Ficolin-3 could be developed.

The scientists responsible for the discovery are Tina Hummelshøj, PhD, Christian Honoré, M.Sci, Lea Munthe-Fog M.Sci, Hans O. Madsen M.Sci, Henrik Permin M.D. and the head of the research team professor Peter Garred, M.D.

For additional information, please contact:

Professor Peter Garred
Telephone: +45 35 45 76 37 or +45 22 80 66 06
e-mail garred@post5.tele.dk

Laboratory of Molecular Medicine
Department of Clinical Immunology, Section-7631
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital
Blegdamsvej 9
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø