Michael Rolph, of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, and collegues say a protein called aP2 helps fats cells store fat molecules.
The protein inflames cells lining the surface of the lung's airways.
Researcher Bennett O.V. Shum says in a statement, "We were really surprised to find aP2 in the lung... We then looked at what would happen when we removed the aP2 gene in mouse models [of asthma]. Mice without aP2 are protected from asthma attacks."
The fat-cell protein may also contribute to other lung diseases as well. Shum says, "Blocking aP2 function is a novel approach for asthma treatment and other inflammatory lung diseases."
Rolph says the good news is that when obese people lose weight, their asthma gets better. The findings are published in the August issue of the "Journal of Clinical Investigation."
