Selective airway responsiveness in asthma.
Hyperresponsiveness of airway smooth muscle accounts for the susceptibility of asthmatic subjects to diverse bronchoconstrictor agents. It is widely presumed that hyperresponsiveness is not spasmogen selective. Hence, inhalation of methacholine is used routinely for clinical assessment of asthma and for evaluation of anti-asthma drugs. Comparative studies employing multiple spasmogens have revealed hyperresponsiveness to be markedly spasmogen selective. Because of this pronounced heterogeneity of hyperresponsiveness, sensitivity to methacholine cannot provide a reliable index of responsiveness. Development of exceptional hyperresponsiveness to bradykinin and to peptidoleukotrienes during allergic and other reactions could warrant the development of specific antagonists for asthma therapy. These issues are discussed here by Brian O'Connor, Simon Crowther, John Costello and John Morley.
O'Connor
B J
BJ
Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Crowther
S D
SD
Costello
J F
JF
Morley
J
J
D000420:Albuterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001920:Bradykinin; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D016210:Methacholine Chloride
D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D000420:Albuterol; D001920:Bradykinin