title: Immunological aspects of chronic asthma.
abstract: The demonstration of leucocyte activation in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic asthma together with elevated levels of neutrophil chemotactic activity provides evidence for an underlying inflammatory process in asthma and confirms that bronchial inflammation is an important cause of airways obstruction. Corticosteroids may act through a variety of mechanisms but their anti-inflammatory action is probably mediated, at least in part, through the inhibition of phospholipase A2. Corticosteroids suppress leucocyte activation in asthma and this is associated with an improvement in lung function, thus supporting the view that their anti-inflammatory mode of action is of essential importance. However, a small group of chronic asthmatics do not respond to corticosteroids, even when given in large doses and the nature of the cellular defect in these "corticosteroid-resistant" individuals is thought to be the monocyte. The cells of the monocyte/macrophage series may play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones