Modulation of bronchial inflammation: corticosteroids and other therapeutic agents.

We have shown that treatment with inhaled corticosteroid acts to improve asthma-induced changes in the airway mucosa to such an extent that cell type and structure are normalized. More specifically, such treatment increases the number of intraepithelial nerves, decreases the total number of inflammatory cells, and eliminates epithelial eosinophils, as well as decreasing the number of endothelial gaps in the postcapillary venules. In contrast, these effects do not seem to be found following treatment with beta 2-agonists.