Leukotrienes in asthma.

Abstract

One of the major reasons for pursuing the chemical structure of the biological material known as slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) was that this material was known to be a potent bronchoconstrictor substance in guinea pigs [1] and in isolated human airways [2]. Thirty years ago, the simple concept was that SRS-A was released from sensitized cells following antigen sensitization and challenge, and that the released material transduced a signal at an as yet to be identified receptor leading to smooth muscle constriction and therefore the manifestations of human asthmA. It has been almost 25 years since the elucidation of the structure of SRS-A as a mixture of the cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT) [3] and just over 5 years since agents that act on leukotriene pathway have been available as asthma treatments [4,5]. What have we learned about asthma from the use of these agents and what is the role of these agents in the treatment of asthma?