Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of airways characterized by prominent inflammatory cells infiltrated. And these inflammatory cells can secrete a series of inflammatory cytokines which are critical in the research of the occurrence and development of asthma. In vivo animal models can offer valuable information on several aspects of asthma pathogenesis and treatment. Transgenic mice, helping us efficiently and accurately define the function of specific genes in lungs, can be made animal models needed in evaluating the potential contribution to the pathogenesis and progression made by asthma inflammatory cells and cytokines. In this review, we will discuss the application of transgenic mice to the research on the onset and development of asthma in recent years, especially the inflammatory factors involved in them. And transgenic mice will play a more important role in the study of anti-asthma drugs than ever before.

Key words: transgenic mice, asthma, inflammation, cytokines