High Protein Levels May Signal Lower Lung Function
Higher levels of proteins called ICAM-1 (intracellular adhesion molecule) are associated with lower lung function. That’s according to a study co-authored by David Jacobs, Mayo Professor of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.
The protein exists in endothelial cells that line the arteries and help initiate the immune system's inflammatory response to “invaders” such as cholesterol deposits.
“We found a fairly substantial decline in lung function in people with the highest levels of ICAM, compared with people with lower levels, regardless of their weight,” Jacobs told Florida’s Sun Sentinel.
The study used data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) observational cohort.
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