Inflammation, Inflammatory Mediators, and Mediator Antagonists in Asthma
- 1 July 1998
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- Vol. 38 (7), 577-582
- https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1552-4604.1998.tb04463.x
Abstract
Asthma is an inflammatory disease that involves mast cells, antigen‐presenting cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, and TH2‐lymphocytes. These cells produce a broad array of mediators and cytokines that lead to the bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, mucus secretion, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness that characterize asthma. Current guidelines for therapy recommend that all patients whose asthma is more severe than mild intermittent receive chronic treatment with drugs that interrupt this inflammatory cascade. Corticosteroids have been the gold standard for treatment, but a greater understanding of the specific cells and mediators involved in the pathogenesis of asthma has led to more focused, specific therapy. Pharmacologic agents that interrupt the synthesis of action of leukotrienes, and monoclonal antibodies directed against intracellular adhesion molecules or immunoglobulin E are examples of the new generation of specific targeted therapy for use in asthma.Keywords
This publication has 65 references indexed in Scilit:
- Corticosteroids in the Treatment of AsthmaClinical Immunotherapeutics, 1995
- Effect of prolonged use of inhaled steroids on the cellular immunity of children with asthmaJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1995
- Effect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist MK-0679 on baseline pulmonary function in aspirin sensitive asthmatic subjects.Thorax, 1993
- Predominant TH2-like Bronchoalveolar T-Lymphocyte Population in Atopic AsthmaNew England Journal of Medicine, 1992
- New aspects of the therapeutic potential of theophylline in asthmaJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1989
- Effect of long-term treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and beta-agonists on the bronchial responsiveness in children with asthmaJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1987
- Airway Responsiveness to Leukotrienes C4 and D4 and to Methacholine in Patients with Asthma and Normal ControlsNew England Journal of Medicine, 1986
- Changes in bronchial hyperreactivity induced by 4 weeks of treatment with antiasthmatic drugs in patients with allergic asthma: A comparison between budesonide and terbutalineJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1985
- Peptide Leukotriene Release after Antigen Challenge in Patients Sensitive to RagweedNew England Journal of Medicine, 1984
- Leukotrienes promote plasma leakage and leukocyte adhesion in postcapillary venules: in vivo effects with relevance to the acute inflammatory response.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1981