Premium
Effects of cytokines on contractile and dilator responses of airway smooth muscle
Author(s) -
Shore Stephanie A,
Moore Paul E
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1681.2002.03756.x
Subject(s) - dilator , airway , medicine , asthma , proinflammatory cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , interleukin , immunology , cytokine , endocrinology , inflammation , anesthesia
Summary 1. Increased bronchoconstrictor responses to contractile agonists and decreased dilator responses to β‐adrenoceptor agonists are characteristics of human asthma. One explanation for these features of asthma is that cytokines released in the asthmatic airway have direct effects on airway smooth muscle cells that alter their phenotype. 2. The present review summarizes data indicating that inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)‐1β and tumour necrosis factor‐α, T helper (h) 1 cytokines, such as interferon‐γ, and Th2 cytokines, such as IL‐13 and IL‐5, have the capacity to enhance contractile responses and/or decrease relaxant responses of airway smooth muscle. These effects are observed in smooth muscle from human airways and airway smooth muscle of other species. 3. Understanding the mechanistic basis for the effects of these cytokines may prove to be an important step in improving the efficacy of β‐adrenoceptor agonists for the treatment of asthma.