Immunosuppression in Chronic Asthma

There is considerable evidence that the T lymphocyte plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Cyclosporin A (CsA), an immunosuppressive agent which acts primarily by inhibition of T lymphocyte activation, improved lung function and reduced the frequency of disease exacerbations in steroid-dependent asthmatics. While oral immunosuppressive therapies are limited by toxicity, novel agents based on inhibition of the T lymphocyte and delivered by the inhaled route might provide a new approach to therapy not only for chronic severe asthma but also for the much larger number of patients with milder disease.