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A therapeutical outlook in "infectious" bronchial asthma

A Olinescu1, I Leveneţ

  • 1Cantacuzino Institute, Bucharest, Romania.

Roumanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology
|February 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Chronic bronchial asthma involves abnormal immune cell function and cytokine imbalance. Autovaccines and immunomodulators offer a beneficial treatment alternative to antibiotics or steroids for asthma patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pulmonology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Chronic bronchial asthma pathogenesis involves polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and eosinophils.
  • These cells are stimulated by local bacterial flora, leading to excessive reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) release.
  • Disordered enzyme synthesis (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase) and an imbalance in Th1/Th2 cytokines (elevated IL-4, IL-5; reduced IFN-gamma) are implicated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of local bacterial flora in chronic bronchial asthma.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of autovaccines and immunomodulators as a treatment for asthma.
  • To compare this treatment approach with conventional antibiotics or glucocorticoids.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of PMN and eosinophil function in asthma patients.
  • Assessment of local bacterial flora and its role in immune cell stimulation.
  • Treatment with autovaccines derived from local flora combined with immunomodulators.

Main Results:

  • Abnormal PMN and eosinophil function, linked to local bacteria, contributes to asthma.
  • Disorders in antioxidant enzyme synthesis and skewed Th2 cytokine production were observed.
  • Treatment with autovaccines and immunomodulators demonstrated beneficial effects for patients.

Conclusions:

  • Local bacterial flora plays a significant role in the abnormal immune responses seen in chronic bronchial asthma.
  • Autovaccines derived from local flora, alongside immunomodulators, represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • This approach offers a beneficial alternative to traditional antibiotic or glucocorticoid treatments for asthma.

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