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The Genetic Bases of Asthma

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Bronchial Asthma

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Abstract

Asthma is characterized by acute clinical symptoms such as bronchoconstriction, bronchial inflammation and cough due to increased smooth muscle contractility, epithelial secretion, and tissue remodeling ultimately leading to airway thickening. Numerous genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors underlie the pathological antigen–antibody reaction inducing a vago-vagal axon reflex. The biochemical mechanisms involved in asthma exacerbations include a disequilibrium between two opposite second messenger systems in the airways, favoring the PLC–PKC over the cAMP cascade.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA

    Carlo Selmi MD, PhD & M. Eric Gershwin MD, MACP

  2. Autoimmunity and Metabolism Unit, Department of Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Selmi MD, PhD

  3. Clinica Medica, Studio Medici EST, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Maria De Santis MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Carlo Selmi MD, PhD
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  2. Maria De Santis MD, PhD
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  3. M. Eric Gershwin MD, MACP
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Correspondence to Carlo Selmi MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy &, University of California, Davis, Davis, 95616, California, USA

    M. Eric Gershwin

  2. , Pulmonary and Critical Care, UC Davis Medical Group, J St. 2825, Davis, 95816, California, USA

    Timothy E. Albertson

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Selmi, C., De Santis, M., Gershwin, M.E. (2012). The Genetic Bases of Asthma. In: Gershwin, M., Albertson, T. (eds) Bronchial Asthma. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6836-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6836-4_2

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