This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Asthma, a disorder of airway inflammation, airflow obstruction, and hyperresponsiveness, has been increasing in prevalence and severity over the past several decades. An important subset of asthma is that seen in the workplace, especially in agricultural settings. Following inhalation of organic dusts, asthmatics (and many non-asthmatics) develop airflow obstruction. Endotoxin is an important dust component that leads to airway inflammation and airflow obstruction. Importantly, currently available asthma therapies have little effect on endotoxin-induced lung disease, leading to few options for asthmatics who wish to continue working on the farm. Inhaled corticosteroids, the 'gold standard' treatment, have been optimized for delivery to relatively large airways; responses to endotoxin may occur in smaller, more distal bronchi, thus reducing the benefit of these agents. To better understand endotoxin-induced airways disease, we propose the hypothesis that inhaled endotoxin induces a specific and characteristic pattern of inflammation and bronchospasm among individuals with hyperreactive airways. This study will improve our understanding of the natural history of asthma as well as that of airway inflammation from inhaled organic dusts. In addition, it may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of asthma and airway responses in farmers.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 381 publications
