Therapeutic Strategies in Asthma: Modern Therapeutic Targets

The care of an increasing number of adult and child patients with asthma has become a major task for clinicians, and a growing concern for public health physicians and health care administrators. At the same time, and in response to this situation, a considerable effort is being made in basic and clinical research to develop new treatments. This book looks into the future and assesses the possibilities of a number of new therapies for asthma under exploration and development. A group of distinguished international authors examine the potential of new agents working on various targets that are currently under evaluation, including autocoids and their inhibitors, enzyme-inhibitors, sensory nerves and sensory neuropeptides, and receptors in immunology Asthma: Modern Therapeutic Targets provides physicians with an appreciation of the future directions of treatment. It provides clinical pharmacologists and researchers with an up-to-date insight into advances in this exciting field. This book will also be a valuable tool for researchers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Preface
AUTOCOIDS AND THEIR RECEPTORS IN AIRWAY DISEASES
1. Adenosine receptors: novel molecular targets in asthma. D Zeng, R Polosa, I Biaggioni,
L Belardinelli
2. TGF-beta: its role in asthma and therapeutic potential. R McAnulty
3. Transcription factors in asthma: are transcription factors a new target for asthma therapy? J Black,
M Roth
4. Is IKK2 inhibition a feasible target in asthma? Y Amrani
ENZYME-INHIBITORS
5. Protease-activated receptors: targets for therapeutic intervention in asthma.
JM Tunon de Lara, P Berger
6. NOS as a therapeutic target in asthma. FLM Ricciardolo, G Folkerts
7. Role of metalloproteinase inhibitors in asthma. PS Thomas
SENSORY NERVES AND SENSORY NEUROPEPTIDES
8. Sensory neuropeptides as innovative targets in asthma. GF Joos
9. Rationale for vanilloid receptor 1 agonist-based therapies in asthma. P Geppetti
RECEPTORS IN IMMUNOLOGY
10. Agents against cytokine synthesis or receptors for asthma. KF Chung
11. Putative role of anti-TNFa drugs in asthma management. MA Berry, I Pavord
12. Targeting chemokines in asthma management. L Murray
13. The CCR3:eotaxin signalling pathway and asthma, E Wise, J Pease

Abbreviations
General Index