BACKGROUND Chronic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zileuton on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling. METHODS Two experimental groups of brown Norway rats sensitized and repeatedly challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin (OA) were given oral zileuton (OA-...

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and reportedly counteracts the anti-inflammatory effect of endogenous glucocorticoids. There have been only a few reports that demonstrate a potential link between MIF and bronchial asthma. In an attempt to further clarify the precise role of MIF in asthma, we examined the effect of anti-MIF antibody on airway inflammat...

BACKGROUND Few studies have compared the effects of immunotherapy and inhaled steroids. The main limitation of such studies is the long duration required to fully appreciate the effects of immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of inhaled budesonide and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in mild persistent asthma for up to 5 years. METHODS Patients with mild persistent asthma and rhin...

OBJECTIVES Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 is a homolog of CD28, which is expressed only on activated T cells. It binds to accessory molecule B7 and mediates T-cell-dependent immune response. Signaling through CTLA-4 may down-regulate type 1 T-helper cell proliferation; moreover, some studies suggest that CTLA-4 might also deliver a positive signal to type 2 T-helper cell activation. Di...

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the effects of a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic, clarithromycin, on bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in patients with a diagnosis of asthma. Adult asthma patients undergoing treatment with budesonide 400 microg b.i.d. and salbutamol 200 microg p.r.n. less than twice weekly were studied. Arm A (16 males/...

In a randomized, cross-over study we compared the effects of inhaled nedocromil sodium, 4 mg q.i.d., with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate, 200 micrograms q.i.d. in 23 atopic asthmatic patients. After a 3 week single-blind placebo period, regarded as the baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks of active treatment, drug effects were assessed with regard to bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine...

BACKGROUND There is a need for a new respiratory symptoms questionnaire for use in epidemiological research in asthma. METHOD A questionnaire was designed following a pilot study in 78 subjects. It contains nine questions on symptoms such as wheeze and difficulty with breathing in defined circumstances such as exercise and sleep. It was completed by 211 adults and validated by comparison with...

Genetic association studies have related the tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene (TNFA) guanine to adenine substitution of nucleotide -308 (-308G>A) polymorphism to increased risk of asthma, but results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to test whether two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of TNFA and of the lymphotoxin-alpha gene (LTA), are associated with asthma, bronchial hyper...