TNF‐α Dysregulation in Asthma: Relationship to Ongoing Corticosteroid Therapy

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a major proinflammatory cytokine that is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, alterations in systemic regulation of this cytokine in asthma have not been examined in the context of corticosteroid therapy. OBJECTIVES: To examine the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three different groups of patients with asthma requiring varying amounts of …