Open AccessAirway Hyperresponsiveness and Inflammation: Causation, Correlation, or No Relation?
Author(s) -
Yvonne JanssenHeininger,
Charles G. Irvin,
Erich V. Scheller,
Amy L. Brown,
Jay K. Kolls,
John F. Alcorn
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of allergy and therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2155-6121
DOI - 10.4172/2155-6121.s1-008
Subject(s) - airway hyperresponsiveness , medicine , asthma , inflammation , immunology , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , pathogenesis , sensitization , airway , disease , respiratory disease , pathology , lung , surgery
Asthma represents a growing problem in the developing world, affecting millions of children and adults. Features of the disease are reversible airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation leading to tissue damage and remodeling. Many studies have attempted to address whether inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness are mechanistically linked. In this study, data are presented from several mouse models that illustrate that a clear link between these features of asthma remains elusive. The impact of altering inflammatory signaling (NF-κB or JNK1) on inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness was examined. In addition, the effect of antigen sensitization and the route of antigen delivery were investigated. The data herein show that in many cases, inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness do not directly correlate. In conclusion, the need for mechanistic studies in mouse models is highlighted to address the interplay between these components thought to be critical to asthma pathogenesis.