TLR9 activation by CpG motifs have previously been shown to suppress T cell-mediated asthma through allergen-dependent mechanisms involving TH1 cells and regulatory T cells. In this study, Dr. Chang’s team identified an allergen independent, innate-driven mechanism for the suppression of ILC2-driven acute airway inflammation. By using synthetic CpG, they found that local administration of TLR9 ligand stimulates plasmacytoid dendritic cells to secrete IFN-α, which in turn activates NK cells to produce IFN-γ. IFN-γ directly inhibits ILC2 proliferation and type 2 cytokine production through STAT1-dependent mechanism. Considering that ILC2s are associated with severe and corticosteroid-resistant asthma in both children and adults, this finding underscores the therapeutic potential of using TLR9 ligands as a non-steroid alternative to manage poorly controlled asthma involving ILC2s.

　　Recently, immune-modifying treatments that mimic infection with natural pathogens have attracted much attention from researchers due to their therapeutic potential. In a proof-of-concept study, the team also demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of administering non-immunogenic microparticle containing TLR9 ligand (MIS416) through local intranasal route, which is a less invasive way to deliver drugs to the lungs. Derived from commensal gram positive Propionibacterium acnes, this microparticle formulation was found to recapitulate the effects of synthetic CpG but with greater efficacy. This approach may offer an advantage over currently prescribed corticosteroids, since; by comparison, it acts upstream of inflammatory cell signaling rather than directly on pathway signaling intermediates. Moreover, this microparticle is biodegradable, and has been proven to be safe and well-tolerated by humans.

　　Dr. Ya-Jen Chang is an Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) in Academia Sinica. The first author, Dr. Christina Li-Ping Thio is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the IBMS. The authors collaborated with Dr. Gill Webster from Innate Immunotherapeutics (New Zealand), with their research being funded by both the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Academia Sinica.

　　The article entitled “TLR9-dependent interferon production prevents group 2 innate lymphoid cell-driven airway hyperreactivity” can be found at the JACI website at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2019.03.008

[Libertytimes]青春痘細菌 竟可治療氣喘

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/paper/1284171

摘要:氣喘是常見疾病，特別在兒童間盛行率很高，多使用抗發炎藥類固醇治療，但越來越多抗藥性反應；中研院研究發現，利用帶有「TLR9配體」的免疫調控微粒子以吸入劑投藥，可有效控制氣喘。

[CNA]治氣喘新招 中研院從青春痘菌找到控喘新藥

https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/201904250120.aspx

摘要:中研院研究團隊利用青春痘菌中的一種免疫調控微粒研發新藥，可抑制第二型先天免疫細胞，調控氣管發炎反應，目前進行人體試驗，可望為類固醇療效不佳的病人，找到控喘解方。

[UDN]中研院發現：青春痘菌可用於治療氣喘

https://udn.com/news/story/7266/3776380

摘要:造成青春痘的細菌可治療氣喘！中央研究院生物醫學科學研究所發現，經過處理的痤瘡丙酸桿菌可治療第二型先天免疫細胞（ILC2）誘發的急性呼吸道免疫反應，對於氣喘嚴重且使用類固醇出現抗藥性的患者而言是一大福音。研究成果上月刊登於國際期刊《過敏和臨床免疫學雜誌》。

[Chinatimes]治療氣喘 中研院有新招

https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20190425002739-260410

摘要:治療氣喘主要使用抗發炎藥－類固醇，但近年來愈來愈多患者出現類固醇抗藥性反應，深受氣喘所苦。中研院生醫所張雅貞助研究員團隊發現，以「免疫調控微粒子」將有助於治療類固醇抗藥性氣喘。

[中央廣播電台]治氣喘新招 中研院從青春痘菌找到控喘新藥

https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2018747

摘要:中央研究院研究團隊利用青春痘菌中的一種免疫調控微粒研發新藥，可抑制第二型先天免疫細胞，調控氣管發炎反應，目前進行人體試驗，可望為類固醇療效不佳的氣喘病患，找到控喘解方。

[Appledaily]青春痘細菌新用途！中研院發現可治氣喘

http://tinyurl.com/y6ljp3pe

摘要:中研院最新研究發現，引發氣喘原因除免疫T細胞受到過敏原刺激外，另知第二型先天免疫細胞也會造成氣喘，從已知青春痘菌製成的免疫調控微粒子發現，它可抑制第二型先天免疫細胞，具治療及預防氣喘效果。

華視

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVkMFipu_18

公視

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzHIBpZXkig

八大

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZozjfwavzo

中天

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGK97f7OUgM