The leukotrienes: mediators of chronic inflammation in asthma.

This article presents information related to leukotrienes which are mediators of chronic inflammation in asthma. Production of leukotrienes is restricted almost exclusively to inflammatory leucocytes. Several cell types within the lung are capable of generating the cysteinyl-LTs when activated, including mast cells, eosinophils and macrophages. The allergen challenge model of asthma has been used extensively in clinical trials to test the efficacy of compounds against endogenously produced cysteinyl-LTs. Inhalation of aerosolized allergen by susceptible subjects induces an early bronchoconstrictor response lasting 20-60 min and in about 50% of subjects, a late bronchoconstrictor response at about 4-6 h after challenge.