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Which Biomarkers Are Effective for Identifying Th2-Driven Inflammation in Asthma?

  • ASTHMA (WJ CALHOUN AND SP PETERS, SECTION EDITORS)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Recognition of asthma as a heterogeneous disease revealed different potential molecular targets and urged the development of targeted, customized treatment modalities. Evidence was provided for different inflammatory subsets of asthma and more recently, further refined to T helper (Th)2-high and Th2-low subphenotypes with different responsiveness to standard and targeted pharmacotherapy. Given these differences in immunology and pathophysiology, proof of concept studies of novel treatment modalities for asthma should be performed in adequate, well-defined phenotypes. In this review, we describe both existing and novel biomarkers of Th2-inflammation in asthma that can be applied to classify asthma subphenotypes in clinical studies and for treatment monitoring.

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Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest

Zuzana Diamant has served on an advisory board (Aerocrine) and served as a consultant for various companies (Hall Allergy Hexal, Mundipharma, Urogenix, Profess, QPS Netherlands).

Leif Bjermer has served on advisory boards and received payment for giving lectures.

Ellen Tufvesson declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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  1. Institute for Clinical Science, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Klinikgatan 18, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Zuzana Diamant, Ellen Tufvesson & Leif Bjermer

  2. Department of General Practice, Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Zuzana Diamant

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  1. Zuzana Diamant
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  2. Ellen Tufvesson
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  3. Leif Bjermer
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Correspondence to Zuzana Diamant.

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Diamant, Z., Tufvesson, E. & Bjermer, L. Which Biomarkers Are Effective for Identifying Th2-Driven Inflammation in Asthma?. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 13, 477–486 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-013-0376-6

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