Molecular Endotypes Contribute to the Heterogeneity of Asthma

Abstract

Diagnosis and management of asthma is commonly implemented based on clinical assessment. Although these nonmolecular biomarkers have been useful, limited resolution of the heterogeneity among asthmatic patients and little information regarding the underlying pathobiology of disease in individuals have been provided. Molecular endotying using global transcriptome expression profiling associated with clinical features of asthma has improved our understanding of disease mechanisms, risk assessment of asthma exacerbations, and treatment responses, especially in patients with type 2 inflammation. Further advances in establishing pathobiological subgroups, bioactive pathways, and true disease endotypes hold potential for a more personalized medical approach in asthmatic patients.

Keywords: Asthma; Biomarker; Endotypes; Epithelium; Human rhinovirus infection; Sputum; Steroid-resistant asthma; Transcriptomics.