Impact of inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists on airway remodeling

Author: Hoshino, Makoto

Source: Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology, Volume 27, Number 1, February 2004 , pp. 59-64(6)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $42.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells and remodeling, a term used to define complex morphological changes involving all the structures of the bronchial wall (e.g., goblet cell hyperplasia of the epithelium, thickening of reticular basement membrane, increases of airway smooth muscle [ASM], and blood vessels). An important factor in the pathophysiology of asthma is the recognition that airway inflammation and airway remodeling are linked, as they are in other chronic inflammatory diseases. First-line therapy of persistent asthma involves the use of inhaled corticosteroids to control the underlying inflammation of the airways. Because remodeling of the airway wall is thought to be a result of chronic inflammation within the bronchial wall, it follows that because steroids reduce or reverse inflammation, they may also prevent or modulate remodeling. It has been revealed that steroids improve the subepithelial fibrosis and also significantly reduce airway vascularity. The cysteinyl leukotrienes receptor antagonists may also be helpful regarding the targeting of the inflammation and remodeling in asthma. However, long-term studies were needed to appreciate the prevention and treatment of remodeling by drug therapies.

Keywords: Airway remodeling; airway inflammation; lung function; corticosteroids; cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1385/CRIAI:27:1:059

Affiliations: 1: Division of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, 216-8511, Kawasaki, Japan, Email: mhoshino@marianna-u.ac.jp

Publication date: 2004-02-01