Thien F C, Walters E H
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Vic, Australia.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1995 May;52(5):271-88. doi: 10.1016/0952-3278(95)90027-6.
There have been significant advances in our understanding of the role of eicosanoids as mediators in inflammation since their discovery over 50 years ago. Our more recent understanding of asthma as an inflammatory disease has led to the appreciation of eicosanoids potentially being pivotal mediators in promoting some of the changes in asthma. Of particular importance are the cysteinyl LTs in producing bronchospasm and bronchial hyperresponsivenss, and PGE2 in modulating the bronchospastic and inflammatory response. Evidence from clinical studies suggests that other eicosanoids may also contribute, but their importance is secondary and their relative contributions vary between individuals. The development of new drugs based on our partial understanding of the role that eicosanoid mediators may play in asthma promises new approaches to the treatment of this common chronic inflammatory condition.
自50多年前发现类二十烷酸作为炎症介质的作用以来，我们对其的理解有了重大进展。我们最近对哮喘作为一种炎症性疾病的理解，使人们认识到类二十烷酸可能是促进哮喘某些变化的关键介质。特别重要的是半胱氨酰白三烯在产生支气管痉挛和支气管高反应性方面的作用，以及前列腺素E2在调节支气管痉挛和炎症反应方面的作用。临床研究证据表明，其他类二十烷酸也可能起作用，但其重要性是次要的，且其相对作用在个体之间有所不同。基于我们对类二十烷酸介质在哮喘中可能发挥的作用的部分理解而开发的新药，有望为治疗这种常见的慢性炎症性疾病带来新方法。
