Novel Approaches to Anti-Inflammatory Agents as Therapeutics for Asthma

Abstract

It is now a well-acknowledged fact that lung airway and tissue inflammation is a major aspect of the pathobiology of pulmonary diseases such as asthma, emphysema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung diseases. Asthma incidence is increasing and standard therapies show significant flaw. Although steroid therapy plays a major role in the treatment of asthma, it suffers from a number of side-effects. Currently, new approaches directed toward the treatment of inflammation associated with pulmonary diseases have included the development of agents which have impact on T-lymphocytes, mast cells, macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. These cells have the ability to produce some inflammatory mediators (e.g. cytokines, leukotrienes and cyclooxygenase products) or to release degradative enzymes, toxic proteins and toxic oxygen metabolites. It has also been demonstrated that leukotrienes play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase and 5-lipoxygenaseactivating protein (FLAP) inhibitors are likely to be the most significant new anti-asthma drugs. This review will deal with new approaches for asthma therapy as well as discuss new anti-asthma drugs. Keywords: Asthma, leukotrienes, leukotriene receptor antagonists, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, FLAP inhibitors