Open AccessElucidating novel disease mechanisms in severe asthma
Author(s) -
Kim Richard Y,
Rae Brittany,
Neal Rachel,
Donovan Chantal,
Pinkerton James,
Balachandran Lohis,
Starkey Malcolm R,
Knight Darryl A,
Horvat Jay C,
Hansbro Philip M
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1038/cti.2016.37
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , disease , rheumatoid arthritis , inflammatory bowel disease , bioinformatics , intensive care medicine , immunology , biology
Corticosteroids are broadly active and potent anti‐inflammatory agents that, despite the introduction of biologics, remain as the mainstay therapy for many chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Significantly, there are cohorts of these patients with poor sensitivity to steroid treatment even with high doses, which can lead to many iatrogenic side effects. The dose‐limiting toxicity of corticosteroids, and the lack of effective therapeutic alternatives, leads to substantial excess morbidity and healthcare expenditure. We have developed novel murine models of respiratory infection‐induced, severe, steroid‐resistant asthma that recapitulate the hallmark features of the human disease. These models can be used to elucidate novel disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets in severe asthma. Hypothesis‐driven studies can elucidate the roles of specific factors and pathways. Alternatively, 'Omics approaches can be used to rapidly generate new targets. Similar approaches can be used in other diseases.