MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma

Contact Details

Department of Asthma, Allergy & Respiratory Science

King's College London

5th Floor - Tower Wing

Guy's Hospital

London

SE1 9RT

Telephone

+44 (0) 2071880597

Email

grzegorz.woszczek@kcl.ac.uk

Profile

Our research focuses on characterisation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) (the largest family of transmembrane signalling molecules) and their role in immune reactions leading to chronic inflammatory diseases, such as bronchial asthma and allergic diseases. Although, GPCRs are targets for more than 30% of all approved drugs, the expression and function of many of those receptors are incompletely characterized, and many remain orphans (without known ligands). The last years have seen remarkable advances in structural and functional biology of GPCRs that await now for translational medicine research. The understanding of GPCR responsiveness to lipid mediators such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, lipoxins and lysophospholipids and their role in pathophysiology of asthma and allergic diseases is still based on data obtained long time ago and often does not agree with current discoveries. Newly developed molecular and cellular biology methods allow us to re-evaluate tissue and cell type specific expression, signalling and function of GPCRs and to redefine their role in processes leading to airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling. A better understanding of GPCR biology may lead to development of new therapies for asthma and allergy.

MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma

Last modified: 04 December 2009 11:38