Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma and COPD) are heterogeneic diseases with several phenotypes/endotypes, each of them with different mechanisms immunopathogenic in which several specific immune subsets are participating.
Different molecular phenotypes and endotypes of asthma or COPD have specific pathogenic and physiopathologic mechanisms that lead to alterations in different biomolecules (miRNAs, mRNAs, proteins). These alterations are reflected in the free or nanovesicle´s proteome, transcriptome, and miRNAome from biofluids (e.g., serum, urine), which will be dependent on the phenotype/endotype, severity, or treatment.
Our first research line is the study of this heterogeneity of immune cell subpopulations, with special emphasis on T helper lymphocytes (Th1, Th2, Th17), but also innate immune cells, like eosinophils, neutrophils, innate lymphoid cells or gamma-delta T cells. The study of the activation mechanisms of those cells, as well as their effector and regulatory functions in chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or COPD.
Thus, the second research line of the group is the study of exosomal/free proteome, transcriptome, and miRNAome of biofluids (serum, urine) in subgroups of patients with asthma/COPD and different severity, phenotype, or endotype, in order to identify novel pathogenic pathways and predict treatment responses.