Corticosteroid-induced apoptosis in mouse airway epithelium: effect in normal airways and after allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Background: Damage to the airway epithelium is one prominent feature of the damage seen in chronic asthma. Cortico-steroids induce apoptosis in inflammatory cells, which in part explains their ability to suppress airway inflammation. However, corticosteroid therapy does not necessarily reverse the epithelial damage seen in asthmatic airways.