Targeting tumour necrosis factor-α in corticosteroid-dependent asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by bronchospasm attacks triggered by various stimuli. The underlying pathogenic mechanism is eosinophil-dominated inflammation causing bronchial hyper-responsiveness, but in more severe asthma subjects, neutrophil cells and their directly related cytokines, such as TNF-α, are known to play a role in the inflammatory process and also in diminished corticosteroid sensitivity. The bronchospasm attacks are usually relieved by short-acting β₂-agonists, whereas maintenance therapy is represented mainly by inhaled corticosteroids. However, in severe persistent asthma or in difficult to treat asthma these can be ineffective even at high doses. Therefore, other therapeutic alternatives are needed, and etanercept, a TNF-α-blocking agent, could represent one of them provided the safety and efficacy data are supportive.

Keywords::

• asthma
• etanercept
• TNF-α