Therapeutic Targets In Airway Inflammation

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

Asthma is a chronic airway disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide with an expected increase of an additional 100 million by 2025. Past decade has observed a notable increase in asthma prevalence on both national and global levels with highest rates observed in western countries (about 30%). Over the past 40 years, a drastic increase in global prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and economic burden have been observed due to asthma especially in children. The rising numbers of hospital admissions for asthma, especially young children, reflect an increase in severe asthma, poverty and lack of proper disease management. Worldwide, approximately 180,000 deaths annually are caused due to this condition. The financial burden on a single asthma patient per year in different western countries ranges from US$300–1,300. Asthma is an intricate respiratory disorder with differences in its severity, natural history and hence treatment response. These differences in intensities of various presentations such as bronchial hyper-responsiveness, airway inflammation, mucus production, airflow obstruction make asthma a heterogeneous disease. The mainstay of current therapies for asthma includes inhaled corticosteroids, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, leukotriene modifiers and β2-adrenoceptor agonists. Some of the currently available drugs are efficient in one or more aspects. However the associated side effects or heterogeneity of the disease limit their usefulness and efficacy, thereby putting a demand on development of new drugs and therapies. On the other hand, asthma has also been treated/managed via herbal medications. These approaches have been described in Unani, Ayurvedic or Chinese system of medicine since antiquity. In fact, several anti-asthmatic drugs were developed from herbs commonly utilized in the non-Western system of medicine. This book focuses on the pathophysiology of asthma, its medication (both herbal and modern), limitations and their future prospects.

Incidences of inflammatory airway diseases are on the rise across the world. Existing therapeutic options are ineffective, unsafe, and expensive, and severe cases are nonresponsive to conventional therapy. Therefore, it is imperative that research be undertaken to discover new treatment options. Obstructive Airway Diseases: Role of Lipid Mediators discusses clinically successful and potential lipid targets that can make a difference in treating some of the most intractable disease states. Topics discussed include: Obstructive airway diseases, etiology, pathophysiology, and existing therapeutic options What constitutes a lipid and how it is broken down to generate biologically active mediators The role of enzymes in the process of lipid mediator synthesis The biology of arachidonic acid, platelet-activating factor, and lysophosphatidic acid and the role they play in airway inflammation Products of arachidonic acid metabolism such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, epieicosatrienoic acid, and oxoeicosatetraenoic acid Proresolution lipid mediators in inflammatory airway disease conditions The role of sphingosine and ceramide in inflammatory airway disease Protein kinases activated by lipid mediators and those that trigger the generation of lipid messengers The combined input of a panel of international authorities on lipid mediators makes this volume a valuable resource for all those involved in researching, teaching, and studying airway inflammation as well as those involved in drug discovery research. Punit Srivastava maintains a blog with additional information about the book and his work.

Asthma, allergy and chronic obstructive lung disease are common throughout the world and are increasing in incidence, particularly in the developing world. This volume provides a state-of-the-art account of the identification of new targets and the development of new therapies for these conditions. Some 40 chapters by clinical academics and senior members of the pharmaceutical industry detail the latest breakthroughs in research and development. In asthma, a promising approach is the use of therapy directed against specific Th2 responses through biological antagonists of IL-5, IL-4 and IL-13. There have also been major advances in our understanding of innate immune responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and in the area of Toll-like receptors. Up to date and comprehensive, this book will be of particular relevance to those working in the pharmaceutical industry (in preclinical research and clinical development), to academic researchers in the field of respiratory medicine, and to respiratory health care specialists.

Addressing the need for enhanced drug selectivity and efficacy, Biotherapeutic Approaches to Asthma is an authoritative and timely guide for respiratory specialists, clinical immunologists, allergists, physiologists, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, and medical school students in these disciplines. It contains emerging data on the importance of c

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been a mainstay in the treatment of various autoimmune and allergic diseases for many decades due to their potent anti-inflammatory activities. The beneficial effects of GCs are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mainly through modulation of target gene expression via transactivation or transrepression. Despite their therapeutic potency, the use of GCs is limited as their broad activity profile may lead to the development of severe side effects. Therefore, a better understanding of the precise mode and site of GC-action could help to improve this therape...

Targeting Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases Using Advanced Drug Delivery Systems explores the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics to improve pulmonary disease management, looking down to the nanoscale level for an efficient system of targeting and managing respiratory disease. The book examines numerous nanoparticle-based drug systems such as nanocrystals, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, protein-based, carbon nanotube, and liposomes that can offer advantages over traditional drug delivery systems. Starting with a brief introduction on different types of nanoparticles in respiratory disease conditions, the book then focuses on current trends in disease pathology that use different in vitro and in vivo models. The comprehensive resource is designed for those new to the field and to specialized scientists and researchers involved in pulmonary research and drug development. Explores recent perspectives and challenges regarding the management and diagnosis of chronic respiratory diseases Provides insights into how advanced drug delivery systems can be effectively formulated and delivered for the management of various pulmonary diseases Includes the most recent information on diagnostic methods and treatment strategies using controlled drug delivery systems (including nanotechnology)

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.