Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Romagnani, Sergio

Titel

The role of lymphocytes in allergic disease

Ist Teil von

• Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 2000-03, Vol.105 (3), p.399-408

Ort / Verlag

New York, NY: Mosby, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2000

Quelle

Free E-Journal (出版社公開部分のみ）

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• In the last few years strong evidence has accumulated to suggest that allergen-reactive type-2 T helper (TH2) cells play an important role in the induction and maintenance of the allergic inflammatory cascade. First, cytokines and chemokines produced by TH2 cells (GM-CSF, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, macrophage-derived chemokine) and those produced by other cell types in response to TH2 cytokines or as a reaction to TH2-related tissue damage (eotaxin, transforming growth factor-β, IL-11) account for most pathophysiologic aspects of allergic disorders (production of IgE antibodies; recruitment or activation of mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils; mucus hypersecretion; subepithelial fibrosis; and tissue remodeling). The TH2 hypothesis may also explain the complex genetic background responsible for allergic disorders. Several genes are involved in the development and regulation of TH2 cells and may provide the reason why the prevalence of atopic allergy is increasing in Western countries. Indeed, a dramatic change has occurred in the last several decades in the “microbial” environment of children, thus probably altering the balance between TH1 and TH2 responses to “innocuous” antigens (allergens) in favor of TH2 responses. Finally, the TH2 hypothesis offers exciting opportunities for the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeted to address allergen-specific TH2 cells or TH2-derived effector molecules in atopic individuals. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105:399-408.)