[Leukotrienes and airway smooth muscle].
The understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the contraction of airway smooth muscle has tremendously advanced in the recent years. Among extracellular messengers that control airway smooth muscle contraction attention has focused on leukotrienes since several strategies for pharmacological interventions in either the production or the effect of these substances have been developed. Two types of receptor, CysLT and BLT, coupled to G proteins, have been identified and airway smooth muscle contraction mostly depends on CysLT1 receptor activation. This activation induces intracellular calcium release leading to an increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration responsible for airway smooth muscle contraction. Leukotriene antagonists are now available and their role in asthma treatment is being defined.
Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Respiratoire, Faculté de Médecine Victor-Pachon, Université Victor-Segalen, Bordeaux.
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Marthan
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000502:physiology; D018102:Receptors, Leukotriene B4 / Q000502:physiology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D015289:Leukotrienes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D018102:Receptors, Leukotriene B4; C412375:cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C083169:leukotriene D4 receptor; D002118:Calcium