New asthma drugs acting on gene expression

Abstract

New asthma drugs acting on transcription are transcription factor agonists (dissociated steroids, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists), transcription factor inhibitors (NF-κB / AP-1 inhibitors, STAT6 inhibitors), inhibitors of protein kinases acting on transcription factors (p38 MAP kinase inhibitors), and chromatin modifying agents. Pharmacological approach of translation in asthma includes therapeutic ribozymes and antisense oligonucleotides targeting receptors (adenosine A1 receptor, alpha chain of IL-5 receptor, common beta chain of IL-3/IL-5/GM-CSF receptor), cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, SCF), signal transduction molecules (Syk, Lyn), transcription factors (STAT-6, GATA-3). Some of these drugs acting on gene expression have the potential to improve therapeutic benefits compared with traditional drugs.