Images in allergy and immunology: Neutrophils in asthma

[...]IL-8 induces the production of leukotriene B4 and oxygen radicals by neutrophils and stimulates neutrophils for phagocytosis. Because neutrophils are relatively steroid-resistant6 (Fig 4), it was hypothesized that this increased neutrophilic inflammation might explain the poor response to corticosteroids seen in severe refractory disease. Neutrophil products may also be important mediators of epithelial cell activation, eosinophil activation, and heightened vascular permeability in acute severe asthma. Because neutrophils have the ability to participate in tissue damage, they may have a potential role to play in the airway remodeling process that occurs in severe asthma.