[Different models for the study of a new anti-asthmatic substance]

The various physiopathological components of asthmatic disease are interwoven. Experimental models used to study the sites of impact of an anti-asthmatic substance seek to separate the different mechanisms. The in vitro bronchial tissue model is rarely available in man. Progress is being made towards the development of a multicellular and membrane experimental model. However, it is still difficult to establish links between clinical findings, the results of respiratory function tests and biological results at cell or membrane level. There would seem to be a number of essential basic factors in this area: determination of the categories of asthma studied, regular surveillance of respiratory function tests combining spirometric and plethysmographic studies with pharmacodynamic tests, precise therapeutic protocols and the simultaneous use of several cellular biological models.