ABSTRACT
The prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of asthma have increased dramatically over the last few decades despite increased use of currently available therapies. These findings underscore the need for the development of novel therapies. Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by variable airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. Although asthma is multifactorial in origin, the inflammatory process is believed to be a result of inappropriate immune responses to common aeroallergens in genetically susceptible individuals. As such it has been hypothesized that CD4 T cells that produce a Th2 pattern of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of disease. Activation of these cells results in the release of a plethora of inflammatory mediators that individually or in concert induce changes in airway wall geometry and produce the symptoms of the disease. Based on the importance of these lymphocytes, it has recently been postulated that inhibition of the development of the Th2 response or the actions of these cytokines may provide therapeutic benefit.
