Recognition of a molecular defect in bronchial epithelial cells from 70% of mild asthmatics

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) synergizes with pro-inflammatory stimuli like TNF-α in an exaggerated production of inflammatory mediators by human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) which relates to a decreased decay of mRNAs encoding these inflammatory mediators. Recently, we have found that IL-17 coordinately attenuates both the ARE-mediated pathway of mRNA decay and that mediated by microRNA 16 (submitted). Since airway IL-17 has been associated with asthma severity and steroid resistance and PBEC from patients with asthma were recognized earlier to produce enhanced levels of inflammatory mediators we hypothes…