Mechanical strain and airway responsiveness: how long does it take, how long will it last?

摘要

airway HYPERRESPONsrvENESS is a defining characteristic of asthma, and airway smooth muscle function is a critical determinant of this airway responsiveness (7). Current therapies that target airway smooth muscle function in asthma, short- and long-acting bronchodilators, induce relaxation of smooth muscle; their major mode of action targets a symptom, not disease pathogenesis. Other therapies used in the treatment of asthma are targeted toward inflammatory pathways, despite the fact that a substantial proportion of adult asthmatics may actually have little in the way of chronic inflammation (5, 6). The development of treatments specifically targeted toward airway hyperresponsiveness is needed. Developing novel, innovative approaches to target airway reactivity in asthma has the potential to fundamentally change the clinical approach to this disease.