title: Neutrophils in asthma.
abstract: Asthma is a complex disease with a significant inflammatory component. Multiple cell types are involved in its pathophysiology. The presence of eosinophils, the cell usually associated with allergic diseases, does not fully explain the inflammation found in asthma. Neutrophils are present in the airway of the patient with asthma in special circumstances and may represent different asthma phenotypes. Neutrophils are activated and are able to release mediators that promote and prolong asthma symptoms. Increasing evidence suggest that neutrophils may be central players with an important role in the pulmonary inflammatory process present in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunological Diseases, Wake Forest University, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. amacdowe@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Macdowell
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators