title: Current and future asthma therapies.
abstract: Corticosteroids (CST) are the gold standard for asthma management and for several decades have been considered the cornerstone for asthma control. With the recent advent of genomic and structural analysis technologies, the molecular basis of the side effects, toxicity and resistance mechanisms of drug treatment are better understood. With respect to CST, there is consistent evidence that while CST therapy improves asthma symptoms, it does not alter the natural course of asthma or offer clear long-lasting improvement of respiratory performance. Therefore, the development of drugs capable of minimizing or avoiding CST side effects, toxicity and resistance could be the way forward for establishing new asthma therapies. This review summarizes the molecular basis of corticosteroid mechanisms of action and the related mechanisms influencing side effects and resistance. The future of CST adjunctive or replacement therapy is also briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kafrelshiekh University, Kafrelshiekh, Egypt. mahmoud.kandeal@vet.kfs.edu.eg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandeel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balaha
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Asthma; Corticosteroids; Drug resistance