Asthma represents a profound worldwide public health problem. The most effective anti-asthmatic drugs currently available include inhaled b 2 -agonists and glucocorticoids; these control asthma in about 90–95% of patients. However, the future therapies will need to focus on the 5–10% patients who do not respond well to these treatments and who account for ~50% of the health care costs of asthma [1, 2]. Strategies for the primary prevention of asthma remain in the realm of speculation and hypothesis [3] . Drug development for asthma has been directed at improving currently available drugs and finding new compounds that target the Th2-driven airway inflammatory response. Several new compounds have been developed to target specific components of the inflammatory process in asthma [e.g., anti-IgE antibodies (omalizumab), cytokines and/or chemokines antagonists, immunomodulators, antagonists of adhesion molecules], although they have not yet been proven to be particularly effective. In fact, only omalizumab has reached the market; it may be most cost-effective for patients with severe persistent asthma and frequent severe exacerbations requiring hospital care [3– 5] . In this chapter, we will review the role of current antiasthma drugs and future new chemical entities that can target Th2 cells in asthmatic airways. Some of these new Th2-oriented strategies may, in the future, not only control symptoms and modify the natural course of asthma, but also potentially prevent or cure the disease.

Targeting Th2 cells in asthmatic airways

CARAMORI, Gaetano
Primo
;
CASOLARI, Paolo;CONTOLI, Marco;PAPI, Alberto
Penultimo
;
2010

Abstract

Asthma represents a profound worldwide public health problem. The most effective anti-asthmatic drugs currently available include inhaled b 2 -agonists and glucocorticoids; these control asthma in about 90–95% of patients. However, the future therapies will need to focus on the 5–10% patients who do not respond well to these treatments and who account for ~50% of the health care costs of asthma [1, 2]. Strategies for the primary prevention of asthma remain in the realm of speculation and hypothesis [3] . Drug development for asthma has been directed at improving currently available drugs and finding new compounds that target the Th2-driven airway inflammatory response. Several new compounds have been developed to target specific components of the inflammatory process in asthma [e.g., anti-IgE antibodies (omalizumab), cytokines and/or chemokines antagonists, immunomodulators, antagonists of adhesion molecules], although they have not yet been proven to be particularly effective. In fact, only omalizumab has reached the market; it may be most cost-effective for patients with severe persistent asthma and frequent severe exacerbations requiring hospital care [3– 5] . In this chapter, we will review the role of current antiasthma drugs and future new chemical entities that can target Th2 cells in asthmatic airways. Some of these new Th2-oriented strategies may, in the future, not only control symptoms and modify the natural course of asthma, but also potentially prevent or cure the disease.
2010
978-4-431-99364-3
978-4-431-99365-0
Asthma; inflammation; drugs
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1377785
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