title: Factors driving the aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease phenotype.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is explained in part by overexpression of 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S), resulting in constitutive overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) and driving the surge in CysLT production that occurs with aspirin ingestion. Similarly, AERD is characterized by the overexpression of CysLT receptors. Increased levels of both interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ are present in the tissue of AERD subjects. Previous studies demonstrated that IL-4 is primarily responsible for the up-regulation of LTC4S by mast cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our previous studies demonstrated that IFN-γ, but not IL-4, drives this process in eosinophils. These published studies also extend to both IL-4 and IFN-γ the ability to up-regulate CysLT receptors. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) acts to prevent CysLT secretion by inhibiting mast cell and eosinophil activation. PGE2 concentrations are reduced in AERD, and our published studies confirm that this reflects diminished expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. A process again that is driven by IL-4. Thus, IL-4 and IFN-γ together play an important pathogenic role in generating the phenotype of AERD. Finally, induction of LTC4S and CysLT1 receptors by IL-4 reflects in part the IL-4-mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6). Our previous studies demonstrated that aspirin blocks trafficking of STAT6 into the nucleus and thereby prevents IL-4-mediated induction of these transcripts, thereby suggesting a modality by which aspirin desensitization could provide therapeutic benefit for AERD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review will examine the evidence supporting this model.
authors.affiliation: Asthma and Allergic Disease Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borish
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000502:physiology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000502:physiology; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000502:physiology; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000502:physiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; C112381:cysteinyl-leukotriene; D015847:Interleukin-4; D017999:Leukotriene E4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003545:Cysteine; C083169:leukotriene D4 receptor; D001241:Aspirin