Full Description
Worldwide, the incidence of asthma has increased dramatically over the last few years. While a multitude of studies on the pathobiology of this disease have been published, both the morphological and functional aspects of asthma are still far from being well defined. The contributions to this special issue discuss the relevance of animal models to asthma research. Rodents, the most commonly used animal model for asthma, offer a good system to study specific aspects of its development but also have clear limitations as they only partly reflect the pathology of human disease. The roles of the heterogeneous cell types in immune reactions in the lung are also analyzed and promising new treatment strategies for the chronic inflammation in asthma are presented. Animal models for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also considered. Elucidating controversial aspects and defining future areas of research, this workshop summary will be of special interest to experimental pathologists, pneumologists and allergologists working on the pathophysiology and treatment of asthma.
Contents
Animal Models for Asthma - Controversial Aspects and Unsolved Problems, R. Pabst; Endotoxins and Allergy - Lessons from the Murine Model, K. Gerhold, K. Blumchen, A. Bock, et al; Recruitment of Lymphocytes and Dendritic Cells from the Blood to the Bronchoalveolar Space and the Draining Lymph Nodes after a Single Intrabronchial Application of the Lipopeptide MALP-2, T. Tschernig, A Luhrmann, R. Pabst; Stimulation of Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue in Rats by Repeated Inhalation of Aerosolized Lipopeptide MALP-2, A. Luhrmann, T. Tschernig, R. Pabst; Inflammation versus Immunoregulation - What Is the Key to the Development of an Effective Antiallergy Vaccine?, G. Wohlleben, K.J. Erb; Animal Models of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Some Critical Remarks, H. Fehrenbach; Long-Term NO2 Exposure Induces Pulmonary Inflammation and Progressive Development of Airflow Obstruction in C57BL/6 Mice - A Mouse Model for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?, M. Wegmann, H. Renz, U. Herz; Surfactant Proteins SP-A and SP-D as Modulators of the Allergic Inflammation in Asthma, J.M. Holhlfeld, V.J. Erpenbeck, N. Krug; Transcription Factors - New Targets for Antiallergic Therapy, D. Quarcoo, E. Hamelmann; Development of Synthetic Pan-Selectin Antagonists - A New Treatment Strategy for Chronic Inflammation in Asthma, E. Aydt, G. Wolff.
