Cysteinyl Leukotriene Modulation in Asthma Pathophysiology
Summary
Asthma is characterised by chronic airway inflammation, reversible bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness. Central to these processes are cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs), lipid mediators synthesised from arachidonic acid through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in mast cells, eosinophils and other innate immune cells. The three principal cysLTs—LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4—exert potent bronchoconstrictor, vascular permeability and mucus-secretory actions via specific G-protein–coupled receptors. Beyond direct effects on smooth muscle, cysLTs amplify type 2 inflammation by recruiting eosinophils, enhancing cytokine release from innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2s) and modulating dendritic cell function. Pharmacological blockade of the CysLT1 receptor has improved clinical outcomes in mild to moderate asthma, yet residual inflammation and hyperresponsiveness persist in severe phenotypes, indicating additional receptors or intracellular signalling networks. Emerging evidence also points to a role for LTE4 as a driver of persistent airway remodelling through novel receptors and nuclear signalling pathways. Together, modulation of cysLT biosynthesis, receptor antagonism and targeting of downstream signalling pathways represent complementary strategies to mitigate type 2–driven airway pathology and improve asthma control.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Cysteinyl Leukotriene Modulation in Asthma Pathophysiology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cysteinyl leukotriene modulation in asthma pathophysiology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs): lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, comprising LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4, that induce bronchoconstriction and inflammation.
CysLT1 receptor: high-affinity G-protein–coupled receptor chiefly responsive to LTD4, mediating smooth muscle constriction and vascular permeability in the airways.
Innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2s): a subset of innate immune cells that produce type 2 cytokines in response to epithelial alarmins and lipid mediators, contributing to airway inflammation.
Eosinophils: granulocytic leukocytes that accumulate in the asthmatic airway, releasing cytotoxic granule proteins and synthesising cysteinyl leukotrienes.
Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR): an exaggerated bronchoconstrictive response to nonspecific stimuli, reflecting airway smooth muscle sensitivity and inflammation.
References
- Multiomics analysis identified IL-4–induced IL1RL1high eosinophils characterized by prominent cysteinyl leukotriene metabolism. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2024).
- The Role of Leukotrienes as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Allergic Disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
- Cysteinyl leukotriene E4 activates human group 2 innate lymphoid cells and enhances the effect of prostaglandin D2 and epithelial cytokines. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2017).
- Cysteinyl Leukotrienes and Their Receptors; Emerging Concepts. Allergy Asthma and Immunology Research (2014).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.