K. Fan Chung and Ian Adcock bring together the first collection of laboratory methods for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of asthma. Leading experts describe highly effective methods for obtaining cells from asthmatic airways, analyzing gene and protein expression in these clinical samples, and using molecular and cellular tools for studying cytokine expression and release in this disease. There are also cutting-edge techniques for studying asthma-related genes and genetic polymorphisms, and for understanding the effects of asthma treatment. User-friendly and state-of-the-art, "Asthma: Mechanisms and Protocols" provides all asthma researchers - whether novice or experienced, whether in experimental or clinical research-with a first-class collection of readily reproducible pharmacological, cellular, molecular, biochemical, and genetic methods for elucidating not only the mechanisms of the disease itself, but also of the drugs for asthma's treatment.