Asthma. Macrophages.

The airway macrophage has the characteristics required of the conducting cell in asthma. First, the airway macrophage is the most numerous cell within the airway lumen. Second, it can be activated by antigen and virus infections to release both spasmogens and chemotactic cytokines. Thus the common triggers to asthma are capable of activating the airway macrophage. Third, the response of the airway macrophage to therapeutic agents used in asthma bears a close similarity to the profile of disease modification with drugs in asthma, that is, they are inhibited by glucocorticosteroids but not beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists.