Inflammatory Mechanisms In Asthma

This timely volume brings together the latest basic and clinical insights on the cellular and mediator mechanisms involved in the induction and persistence of airway dysfunction of asthma by over 90 experts in the field-paving the way for developing novel and more effective antiinflammatory therapeutic agents and strategies. Furnishing a comprehensive and up-to-date view of the expanding and interrelated components underlying asthma pathogenesis, Inflammatory Mechanisms in Asthma describes how evidence on airway inflammation is obtained with invasive and noninvasive procedures, such as bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum analysis reviews the complex interactions of inflammatory cells that contribute to chronic inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity, including eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and macrophages considers mast cells, cytokines, neural factors, leukotrienes, kinins, and other mediators that regulate the development, establishment, or resolution of asthma exacerbations presents new information suggesting that airway changes in asthma can lead to remodeling or airway fibrosis and more! Enhanced with over 4700 references, tables, drawings, and photographs, this compelling investigation into the pathophysiology of asthma is an indispensable resource for pulmonologists, physiologists, immunologists, allergists, epidemiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and graduate and medical school students in these disciplines.

Asthma is a disease which, beginning in the 1980s, increased in the United States and other countries in both its prevalence and mortality. According to reports by the Center for Disease Control, the number of people with asthma increased by 42% in the last decade, with children, ethnic minorities and the urban poor being most at risk. Timely research on the causes and mechanisms behind the dramatic increase of asthma in the United States and other nations-to epidemic proportions-is presented in this volume. Investigators heading up eight research groups in asthma and/or allergy present their most recent findings, funded by the Center for Indoor Air Research. In addition to the work underway and discussions/suggestions on present research problems, ASTHMA: Causes and Mechanisms of an Epidemic Inflammatory Disease provides a chapter on the causes of asthma-and the reasons for its recent spread, so hotly discussed in the current literature. Researchers in the fields of asthma and allergy, health care providers, and others who follow research in either of these two developing areas will benefit from this book. The book is written at the level of one investigator to another.

Inflammatory Cells and Mediators in Bronchial Asthma provides reviews and summaries regarding state-of-the-art articles that examine the role of various inflammatory cells and their mediators in the pathogenesis of asthma. Topics include pharmacological and biochemical regulation of the airways; involvement of key inflammatory cells and the release and effect of their mediators in airway function; and the characteristics of receptors for leukotriene B4, C4, and D4, adenosine, platelet-activating factor, sensory and inflammatory peptides, and the effect of various anti-asthmatic drugs on airway inflammation. Physicians, allergists, immunologists, and pulmonary disease research scientists will find this book to be an invaluable reference resource.

The Second Edition of Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management continues to provide a unique and authoritative comparison of asthma and COPD. Written and edited by the world's leading experts, it continues to be a comprehensive review of the most recent understanding of the basic mechanisms of both conditions, specifically comparing their etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments. * Each chapter considers Asthma and COPD in side-by-side contrast and comparison – not in isolation - in the context of mechanism, triggers, assessments, therapies, and clinical management * Presents the latest and most comprehensive understandings of the mechanisms of inflammation in both Asthma and COPD * Most extensive reference to primary literature on both Asthma and COPD in one source. * Easy-to-read summaries of the latest advances alongside clear illustrations

Severe asthma is a form of asthma that responds poorly to currently available medication, and its patients represent those with greatest unmet needs. In the last 10 years, substantial progress has been made in terms of understanding some of the mechanisms that drive severe asthma; there have also been concomitant advances in the recognition of specific molecular phenotypes. This ERS Monograph covers all aspects of severe asthma – epidemiology, diagnosis, mechanisms, treatment and management – but has a particular focus on recent understanding of mechanistic heterogeneity based on an analytic approach using various ‘omics platforms applied to clinically well-defined asthma cohorts. How these advances have led to improved management targets is also emphasised. This book brings together the clinical and scientific expertise of those from around the world who are collaborating to solve the problem of severe asthma.

This reference examines the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms involved in airway inflammation, as well as the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and aetiology of asthma. It explores strategies to prevent cellular injury and oxidative tissue damage, inhibit key inflammatory pathways and identify disease-specific targets to reduce the induction

It is well established that asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airway mucosa and drugs like inhaled glucocorticoids are now commonly introduced early in therapy. A characteristic feature of this disease is the vast number of eosinophils in airway tissue, although many other migratory and resident inflammatory cells with the capacity to synthesize and release cytokines and putative asthma mediators are present in the inflamed mucosa. The cross-talk between lymphocytes and these cells and the role of cytokines in complex biological networks are currently areas of intense research. This volume gathers together chapters and discussions on the biology of immunocompetent and inflammatory cells, cellular interplay and communication, and on the relative importance of cells and mediators in disease. It should help contribute to further insights into the pathology of asthma and to the development of novel efficacious drugs for the treatment of asthma and related respiratory disorders.