Targeting the mast cell in asthma.
The pulmonary mast cell is intimately associated with the mediation of asthma. Stabilization of mast cell activity, therefore, would be expected to be therapeutically beneficial. The principal frontline therapies used to treat asthma (i.e. bronchodilators and steroids) inadequately control mast cell activity and this constitutes a limitation. Prospective (anti-IgE therapy, adenosine receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors) and potential (chemokine receptor antagonists, Toll-like receptor antagonists) therapies that are being considered for asthma may display variable mast cell-directed activities. Those strategies that target the mast cell more effectively are likely to show greater therapeutic promise.
Peachell
Peter
P
Molecular Pharmacology, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital (Floor M), Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK. p.t.peachell@shef.ac.uk
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies