Which biomarkers are effective for identifying Th2-driven inflammation in asthma?

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2013 Oct;13(5):477-86. doi: 10.1007/s11882-013-0376-6.

Abstract

Recognition of asthma as a heterogeneous disease revealed different potential molecular targets and urged the development of targeted, customized treatment modalities. Evidence was provided for different inflammatory subsets of asthma and more recently, further refined to T helper (Th)2-high and Th2-low subphenotypes with different responsiveness to standard and targeted pharmacotherapy. Given these differences in immunology and pathophysiology, proof of concept studies of novel treatment modalities for asthma should be performed in adequate, well-defined phenotypes. In this review, we describe both existing and novel biomarkers of Th2-inflammation in asthma that can be applied to classify asthma subphenotypes in clinical studies and for treatment monitoring.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Th2 Cells / chemistry
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers