Overview

• Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia report findings in Science Translational Medicine on neutrophilic, non-allergic pediatric asthma that responds poorly to standard therapies.
• In mouse models, lung macrophages accumulated stearic acid from animal and processed fats, which intensified airway inflammation without causing weight gain.
• Monounsaturated oleic acid showed a contrasting effect by suppressing inflammatory activity in the lung models.
• Experimental blockade of IL-1β or inhibition of IRE1α protected against stearic acid–driven lung inflammation.
• A pediatric asthma cohort displayed patterns consistent with the preclinical data, suggesting avenues for targeted diet changes and possible drug repurposing that will require further human studies.