HOST DEFENSES AGAINST RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION—IMPLICATIONS FOR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND TREATMENT

Abstract

The human respiratory tract is exposed to a constantly changing environment which may bring it into contact with a variety of pathogenic organisms. A range of innate and acquired defence mechanisms have evolved to counter these threats. Several new classes of therapeutic agent which may interfere with these defence mechanisms have recently been marketed or are under clinical development; this paper reviews some key examples, with the potential implications for disease management.

Keywords:

• host defense
• immunomodulators
• respiratory tract infection