British Medical Bulletin 56:1037-1053 (2000)
© 2000 The British Council
research-article |
Future treatments of allergic diseases and asthma
National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine and Royal Brompton Hospital London, UK
Correspondence to:Professor Fan Chung, Departments of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK
Abstract
Recent advances in the understanding of the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms of allergic diseases have illuminated many potential therapeutic stratigies that may prevent or even reverse the abnormalities of allergic inflammation. As the roles of effector cells, and of signalling and adhension molecules are better understood, the opportunities to inhibit or prevent the inflammatory cascade have increased. In addition, there have been advances in the synthesis of proteins, monoclonal antibodies and new small molecule chemical entities, which provide further valuable flexibility in the therapeutic appraoch to asthma. Such new approaches are aimed at prevention of T-cell activation; redressing the imbalance of T helper cell populations thus inhibiting or preventing Th-2-derived cytokine expression; and the inhibition or blockade of the downstream actions of these cytokiness such as effects on LqE and eosinophils. Approaches such as these allow both broad and highly specific targeting, and may pave the way towards the prevention and reversal of the immunological and inflammatory processes driving asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. The development of effective agents with effects beyound those provided by current therapies coupled with lesser side-effects will further address the unmet needs of allergic disease.