Associations between Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter and Respiratory Illness Found to Vary between Children and Adults. Implications for U.S. Air Quality Policy

Abstract

neutrophil exocytosis would be required before this biomarker could be translated to the clinical setting. Neutrophil exocytosis–specific inhibitors with antiinflammatory activity have been developed and tested in animal models (10). Could these small-molecule drugs have therapeutic potential in CF lung disease? Although this is an enticing prospect, our understanding of the process of neutrophil degranulation is still in its infancy; therefore, it is difficult to predict whether the neutrophil activation process would be an appropriate therapeutic target. If the major driver for enzyme release is cell death rather than exocytosis from live neutrophils, then pursuing the antiprotease shield mechanism would likely be a more successful approach. Ultimately, longitudinal studies directly assessing neutrophil degranulation will be required to determine exactly how NE and other neutrophilderived products damage the airways, to better define the best targets for antiinflammatory treatment in patients with CF. n