| abstract |
The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for detecting or treating asthma or other allergic or inflammatory diseases. In one aspect, the methods of the present invention include inhibiting the activity or expression of a component of an arginine metabolic pathway in tissues affected by asthma or other allergic or inflammatory diseases. In many embodiments, the component being inhibited is a cationic amino acid transporter, an arginase, or a component downstream of the arg nase. In many other embodiments, the activity or expression of the component is i bited by an agent that binds to the component. In still many other embodiments, the activity or expression of the component is inhibited by an agent that binds a polynucleotide encoding the component. |