Team:UCL/Lungs
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Lungs: Superoxide Dismutase Gene therapy
Over expression of antioxidants that break down toxic reactive oxidative species into less harmful hydrogen peroxide. Read more about our novel synthetic biology approach to the prevention of age-related diseases to the lungs.
Ageing of lungs: the problem
As you get older, you lose the ability of your major organs working at their maximum function. One of these important organs being the lungs. The effects of aging on the respiratory system are similar to those that occur in other systems: there is a decrease in peak airflow and gas exchange and a decline in the effectiveness of lung defence mechanisms. These changes contribute somewhat to an older person's reduced ability to do vigorous exercise, especially intense aerobic exercise. More importantly, these age-related changes in the lungs lead to the development of age related diseases and eventually death.
One of these age related diseases being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that and leads to chronic inflammation and progressive destruction of lung tissues. Its currently a major public health problem worldwide and is the 4th leading cause of death in the world.
