title: Targeting tumour necrosis factor-alpha in corticosteroid-dependent asthma.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by bronchospasm attacks triggered by various stimuli. The underlying pathogenic mechanism is eosinophil-dominated inflammation causing bronchial hyper-responsiveness, but in more severe asthma subjects, neutrophil cells and their directly related cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, are known to play a role in the inflammatory process and also in diminished corticosteroid sensitivity. The bronchospasm attacks are usually relieved by short-acting beta2-agonists, whereas maintenance therapy is represented mainly by inhaled corticosteroids. However, in severe persistent asthma or in difficult to treat asthma these can be ineffective even at high doses. Therefore, other therapeutic alternatives are needed, and etanercept, a TNF-alpha blocking agent, could represent one of them provided the safety and efficacy data are supportive.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pulmonary Disease, 700115 Iasi, Romania. sabinaantoniu@excite.com
authors.forename: Sabina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniu
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept