Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-Asthma Therapy

Asthma is one of the commonest chronic disease world-wide and anti-asthma medications are widely prescribed. Asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease, involving many cells, mediators and inflammatory responses. Current anti-asthma therapy is categorized as bronchodilator (β2-agonists, theophylline, anticholinergics) or anti-inflammatory (glucocorticosteroids, cromones, immunomodulators), although the distinction is not always clear-cut. Bronchodilators are believed to act predominately by relaxing airway smooth muscle, whereas anti-inflammatory drugs suppress the inflammatory response in asthmatic airways.