LEUKOTRIENE RECEPTORS, THEIR IMPORTANCE IN MEDICAL PRACTICE AND THE DRUGS ACTING ON THEM

Strong lipid mediators, leukotrienes (LTs), such as cysteinyl LTs (CysLTs) and LTB4, play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma symptoms. There are at least two known receptor subtypes for CysLTs: CysLT1 and CysLT2. The activation of the CysLT1 receptor mediates the majority of the pathophysiological consequences of CysLTs in asthma, such as increased airway smooth muscle activity, microvascular permeability, and airway mucus secretion. Asthma exacerbations, severe asthma, and airway hyperresponsiveness may all be influenced by LTB4. CysLT1 receptor antagonists can be administered orally as monotherapy in patients with persistent mild asthma, despite the fact that they are typically less efficacious than inhaled glucocorticoids.