The importance of inflammatory cells in asthma

The development of research into the mechanisms and so of treatment of asthma has reached a crossroads. Research into the physiology of 'mature' inflammatory cells and their mediators have not provided treatments as effective as steroids. Whilst it is tempting to pursue this systematic approach, new ideas are emerging which beckon the scientist along a separate path. From molecular biology and modern genetics emerges the idea that a regulatory dysfunction of a lymphocyte is the fundamental abnormality of asthma. Bone marrow transplantation and transfer of 'asthma' from one individual to another supports this view. From lung transplantation has emerged the idea that the distribution of the infiltrate of inflammatory cells may be important in airway hyperresponsiveness. Transplantation also points to the possibility of correlating pathology with physiology by use of small lung biopsies. Perhaps completely new treatments may result from such a novel and 'human' based approach.