American Thoracic Society
Research Grant
01/01/08-12/31/08
PI: Elliot Crouser
Modulation of pulmonary sarcoidosis by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Lay Abstract:
Research studies have shown that nicotine strongly suppresses the immune system and reduces the type of inflammation that is characteristic of sarcoidosis in the lungs. This study will determine if nicotine treatment, administered in the form of a skin patch, will reduce the severity of lung disease and improve the quality of life of patients with sarcoidosis. Specifically, it is hypothesized that nicotine treatment will reduce the severity of sarcoidosis symptoms, improve lung function, and resolve lung inflammation. If this hypothesis is proven to be correct in this relatively small group of patients, additional studies will be performed in a larger group of patients. If nicotine is ultimately found to be an effective treatment for sarcoidosis, it may replace some of the existing treatments which are frequently ineffective and have unacceptable side-effects.