A protein called ABCC1 lets a specific signaling molecule leak out of muscle cells in the airways, which may contribute to the airway constriction that makes it harder for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to breathe, a recent study reported. “This protein has been recognized as important in some diseases, but it has never been defined before in airway diseases, such as asthma and COPD, until now,” Reynold Panettieri, MD, vice chancellor of translational medicine at Rutgers University and a co-author of the study, said in a press release. These findings, Panettieri said, “could be potentially very important in improving asthma and COPD management.” To read the full story.