The many paths to asthma: phenotype shaped by innate and adaptive immunity

HY Kim, RH DeKruyff, DT Umetsu - Nature immunology, 2010 - nature.com
HY Kim, RH DeKruyff, DT Umetsu
Nature immunology, 2010nature.com
Asthma is a very complex and heterogeneous disease that is characterized by airway
inflammation and airway hyper-reactivity (AHR). The pathogenesis of asthma is associated
with environmental factors, many cell types, and several molecular and cellular pathways.
These include allergic, non-allergic and intrinsic pathways, which involve many cell types
and cytokines. Animal models of asthma have helped to clarify some of the underlying
mechanisms of asthma, demonstrating the importance of T helper type 2 (TH2)-driven …
Abstract
Asthma is a very complex and heterogeneous disease that is characterized by airway inflammation and airway hyper-reactivity (AHR). The pathogenesis of asthma is associated with environmental factors, many cell types, and several molecular and cellular pathways. These include allergic, non-allergic and intrinsic pathways, which involve many cell types and cytokines. Animal models of asthma have helped to clarify some of the underlying mechanisms of asthma, demonstrating the importance of T helper type 2 (TH2)-driven allergic responses, as well as of the non-allergic and intrinsic pathways, and contributing to understanding of the heterogeneity of asthma. Further study of these many pathways to asthma will greatly increase understanding of the distinct asthma phenotypes, and such studies may lead to new therapies for this important public health problem.
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