Cytokines in airway inflammation

With over 50 potential asthma mediators. cytokines are the latest group of substances which have been investigated for their potential role in this di sease. The use of murine models of allergic inflammation has facilitated th e investigation of the role of individual cytokines in this response. The u se of targeted gene disruption, overexpression of genes and monoclonal anti bodies directed against cytokines have allowed a detailed examination of th e role cytokines play in IgE production. eosinophil recruitment and bronchi al hyperresponsiveness, which are the characteristic features of the asthma phenotype. Despite the introduction of this new methodology, conflicting r eports relating to the role of cytokines in allergic inflammation, highligh t the complexity of allergic inflammation and challenge the notion that a s ingle cytokine can explain the asthma phenotype. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.