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Cytokines in airway inflammation
Y Riffo-Vasquez1, S Pitchford, D Spina
1The Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, GKT School of Biomedical Science, King's College, London, UK.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|August 15, 2000
Summary
Cytokines are investigated as asthma mediators. Research using mouse models and genetic techniques reveals their complex role in allergic inflammation, challenging single-cytokine explanations for asthma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Asthma involves over 50 mediators, with cytokines being a recent focus.
- Allergic inflammation is a complex process with multiple contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of individual cytokines in allergic inflammation using murine models.
- To examine how cytokines influence IgE production, eosinophil recruitment, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing murine models of allergic inflammation.
- Employing targeted gene disruption and gene overexpression techniques.
- Using monoclonal antibodies against specific cytokines.
Main Results:
- Detailed examination of cytokine involvement in key asthma features.
- Conflicting reports on cytokine roles highlight complexity.
- No single cytokine fully explains the asthma phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Cytokines play a multifaceted role in allergic inflammation.
- The complexity of allergic inflammation challenges simplistic cytokine-based asthma models.
- Further research is needed to understand the intricate cytokine network in asthma.