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Mycoplasma pneumoniae and its role in asthma

¹ Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
² Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
³ Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
⁴ Department of Ocular Pharmacology, Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr R Guleria
Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India;randeepg{at}hotmail.com

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pneumoniae), primarily recognised as a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia has recently been linked to asthma. An infection with M pneumoniae may precede the onset of asthma or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Chronic infection with M pneumoniae has been suspected to play a part in some patients with asthma. The role of immunoglobulin E-related hypersensitivity and induction of T helper type 2 immune response leading to inflammatory response in M pneumoniae-infected patients with asthma have also been proposed. Use of macrolides in reducing asthma symptoms only in M pneumoniae-infected patients supports the use of macrolides in patients with asthma having M pneumoniae infection. As macrolides are both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs, the therapeutic role of their biphasic nature in reducing asthma symptoms needs further attention in clinical research.

Abbreviations: BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus

Keywords: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; bronchial asthma; hyper-responsiveness; asthma exacerbation; cytokines; macrolides; clarithromycin

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