title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae and its role in asthma.
abstract: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae), primarily recognised as a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia has recently been linked to asthma. An infection with M pneumoniae may precede the onset of asthma or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Chronic infection with M pneumoniae has been suspected to play a part in some patients with asthma. The role of immunoglobulin E-related hypersensitivity and induction of T helper type 2 immune response leading to inflammatory response in M pneumoniae-infected patients with asthma have also been proposed. Use of macrolides in reducing asthma symptoms only in M pneumoniae-infected patients supports the use of macrolides in patients with asthma having M pneumoniae infection. As macrolides are both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs, the therapeutic role of their biphasic nature in reducing asthma symptoms needs further attention in clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nazima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.forename: Randeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guleria
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Tirlok
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chand Chawla
authors.forename: Nihar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ranjan Biswas
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000382:microbiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000382:microbiology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018942:Macrolides