Montelukast and Nasal Epithelial Cell Inflammatory Responses in Asthma and Rhinitis

Hypothesis The inflammatory secretory profile of nasal airway epithelial cells (NEC) cultured from asthmatics with concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR) will differ from that of NEC from patients with asthma alone. Treatment (in vitro and in vivo) with montelukast may have differential modulating effects in these two patient groups. For the primary objective of this proposal we will use nasal AEC from asthmatics with or without concomitant AR as to ascertain differences in pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production between these two groups and determine whether in vitro treatment with montelukast has a differential modulating effect on NEC secretion. In the secondary pilot study any modulating effects by montelukast on AEC secretion in vitro will be correlated with any in vivo response to montelukast withdrawal. This sub study will provide pilot data indicating whether in vivo response to montelukast can be predicted from in vitro effects on NEC.