ABSTRACT

Asthma is an inflammatory disease characterized by infiltration and distribution of inflammatory cells in the airway wall and mucosa (1-3). The model for the expression of the asthmatic phenotype currently includes complex interactions among the structural elements of the airways, inflammatory leukocytes and other types of cells, cytokines and chemokines, adhesion molecules, and various other activating and/or stimulating factors. This biological model suggests that there are numerous potential targets for novel therapies in asthma; however, the relative importance of these pathways is unknown. Therefore, the development of compounds that disrupt specific pathways not only offers the potential for new therapy but also helps define the important biological pathways and refine the model of asthma.