Asthma is a complex syndrome with many clinical phenotypes in both adults and children. Its major characteristics include a variable degree of airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. Inhaled allergens encounter antigen presenting cells (APC) that line the airway. Upon recognition of the antigen and activation by APC, naive T cells differentiate into TH2 cells. Activated TH2 stimulate the formation of IgE by B cells. IgE molecules bind to IgE receptors located on mast cells. The crosslinking of mast-cell-bound IgE by allergens leads to the release of biologically active mediators (histamine, leukotrienes) by means of degranulation and, so, to the immediate symptoms of allergy. Mast cells also release chemotactic factors that contribute to the recruitment of inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils, whose proliferation and differentiation from bone marrow progenitors is promoted by IL-5. The activation of eosinophils leads to release of toxic granules and oxygen free radicals that lead to tissue damage and promote the development of chronic inflammation.
Category
Immune system disease
Brite
Human diseases [BR:br08402]
Immune system diseases
Allergies and autoimmune diseases
H00079 Asthma
Human diseases in ICD-11 classification [BR:br08403]
12 Diseases of the respiratory system
Certain lower respiratory tract diseases
CA23 Asthma
H00079 Asthma
Kruse S, Mao XQ, Heinzmann A, Blattmann S, Roberts MH, Braun S, Gao PS, Forster J, Kuehr J, Hopkin JM, Shirakawa T, Deichmann KA
Title
The Ile198Thr and Ala379Val variants of plasmatic PAF-acetylhydrolase impair catalytical activities and are associated with atopy and asthma.
Journal
Am J Hum Genet 66:1522-30 (2000) DOI:10.1086/302901
Reference
PMID:11813133
Authors
Niimi T, Munakata M, Keck-Waggoner CL, Popescu NC, Levitt RC, Hisada M, Kimura S
Title
A polymorphism in the human UGRP1 gene promoter that regulates transcription is associated with an increased risk of asthma.
Journal
Am J Hum Genet 70:718-25 (2002) DOI:10.1086/339272
Reference
PMID:15496624
Authors
Oguma T, Palmer LJ, Birben E, Sonna LA, Asano K, Lilly CM
Title
Role of prostanoid DP receptor variants in susceptibility to asthma.
Journal
N Engl J Med 351:1752-63 (2004) DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa031785
Reference
PMID:18305139
Authors
Orsmark-Pietras C, Melen E, Vendelin J, Bruce S, Laitinen A, Laitinen LA, Lauener R, Riedler J, von Mutius E, Doekes G, Wickman M, van Hage M, Pershagen G, Scheynius A, Nyberg F, Kere J
Title
Biological and genetic interaction between tenascin C and neuropeptide S receptor 1 in allergic diseases.
Balaci L, Spada MC, Olla N, Sole G, Loddo L, Anedda F, Naitza S, Zuncheddu MA, Maschio A, Altea D, Uda M, Pilia S, Sanna S, Masala M, Crisponi L, Fattori M, Devoto M, Doratiotto S, Rassu S, Mereu S, Giua E, Cadeddu NG, Atzeni R, Pelosi U, Corrias A, Perra R, Torrazza PL, Pirina P, Ginesu F, Marcias S, Schintu MG, Del Giacco GS, Manconi PE, Malerba G, Bisognin A, Trabetti E, Boner A, Pescollderungg L, Pignatti PF, Schlessinger D, Cao A, Pilia G
Title
IRAK-M is involved in the pathogenesis of early-onset persistent asthma.
Journal
Am J Hum Genet 80:1103-14 (2007) DOI:10.1086/518259
Reference
PMID:18403759
Authors
Ober C, Tan Z, Sun Y, Possick JD, Pan L, Nicolae R, Radford S, Parry RR, Heinzmann A, Deichmann KA, Lester LA, Gern JE, Lemanske RF Jr, Nicolae DL, Elias JA, Chupp GL
Title
Effect of variation in CHI3L1 on serum YKL-40 level, risk of asthma, and lung function.
Journal
N Engl J Med 358:1682-91 (2008) DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa0708801
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