Advances in asthma in 2017: Mechanisms, biologics, and genetics

Abstract

This review summarizes some of the most significant advances in asthma research over the past year. We first focus on novel discoveries in the mechanism of asthma development and exacerbation. This is followed by a discussion of potential new biomarkers, including the use of radiographic markers of disease. Several new biologics have become available to the clinician in the past year, and we summarize these advances and how they can influence the clinical delivery of asthma care. After this, important findings in the genetics of asthma and heterogeneity in phenotypes of the disease are explored, as is the role the environment plays in shaping the development and exacerbation of asthma. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of advances in health literacy and how they will affect asthma care.

Keywords: Asthma; B cells; airway hyperreactivity; allergens; asthma biomarkers; asthma phenotypes; biologic therapies; environment; eosinophils; genetics; helper T cells; innate lymphoid cells; microbiome; neutrophils; respiratory viruses.