Inflammation, inflammatory mediators, and mediator antagonists in asthma.
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.
Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0111, USA.
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Lazarus
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015289:Leukotrienes; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies