Antagonists of the DP2 receptor, activated by prostaglandin D2, showed clinical efficacy in Phase II trials but not in the reduction of asthma exacerbations in Phase III trials. Here the authors use a pre-clinical model of chronic experimental asthma to show that corticosteroids suppress endogenous PGD2 and IFN-γ production, necessary for the beneficial effects of DP2 antagonism, and hence dual therapy with corticosteroids was less effective than DP2 antagonism alone at resolving airway inflammation and airway remodelling.
- Md Ashik Ullah
- Sonja Rittchen
- Simon Phipps