ABSTRACT
The cysteinyl leukotrienes have biological properties consistent with a central role in asthma. These lipid mediators are found in increased amounts in both clinical asthma and in models of asthma after challenge with aspirin and allergen. Further significant evidence to support their key role in the pathophysiology of asthma has accumulated over the past 10 years and involves the pharmacological inhibition of cysteinyl leukotrienes during experimentally induced and naturally occurring symptoms in asthma. Most early work with antileukotrienes focused on a number of models of asthma and employed allergen provocation and aspirin challenge in sensitive subjects and exercise challenge, isocapnic hyperventilation, and the inhalation of cold dry air in exercise-induced asthma. This has allowed promising antileukotriene compounds to undergo further evaluation in largerscale studies of clinical asthma.
