title: Changing face of β2-adrenergic and muscarinic receptor therapies in asthma.
abstract: Despite current available treatment options, a significant proportion of patients with asthma remain uncontrolled and asthma pharmacotherapy continues to evolve. β2-Adrenergic receptor agonists play a major role as bronchodilators in asthma therapy, although new perspectives reflect the potential for bias G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathways. Due to the success of muscarinic antagonists in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the elucidation that muscarinic receptors play a role in airway remodeling, muscarinic receptors represent an attractive therapeutic target in asthma. Although short-acting muscarinic antagonists are currently limited to their use in acute asthma and as alternative bronchodilators in individuals who experience side effects with β2-agonists, recent clinical trials indicate that the long-acting muscarinic antagonist, tiotropium, deserves consideration as a potential therapeutic agent for select populations. The continued evolution of anticholinergic therapy in asthma will require appropriately designed studies to assess mechanisms, efficacy and safety in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine and Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nastasia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Wasilewski
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine and Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M Diane
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lougheed
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine and Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: fisherjt@queensu.ca.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056151:Airway Remodeling; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists