title: Novel treatments of asthma and allergic diseases.
abstract: The prevalence of allergic diseases has considerably increased, mostly in industrialized countries (> 20%), and asthma affects approximately 300 million individuals worldwide. Current therapies are able to control symptoms although they do not modulate immunological dysregulation that characterizes allergic diseases. Over the last 30 years, only a few new drugs have been introduced on the market and they all act on Th2-type response which has a critical role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Recently, a new scenario has been opened on Th17-cells, Th1-type cytokines and innate immune system components involved in the inflammatory pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. These findings suggest a promising therapeutic role of new agents that block the action of specific cytokines. Furthermore, the concept of an intrinsic structural defect in the bronchial epithelium paves the way to innovative therapeutic strategies. In this review we present an update on therapies for allergic diseases with special focus on asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteferrario
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: moschese@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moschese
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Allergic asthma; Anti-IgE antibodies; Anti-cytokine; Immunomodulators; Immunotherapy; Monoclonal antibodies