Understanding asthma pathogenesis: linking innate and adaptive immunity

SC Eisenbarth, S Cassel… - Current opinion in …, 2004 - journals.lww.com
SC Eisenbarth, S Cassel, K Bottomly
Current opinion in pediatrics, 2004journals.lww.com
The adaptive immune system cannot initiate a response without the “permission” of the
innate immune system, and this holds true for Th2 responses to aeroallergens, although
induction of Th2 immunity in response to TLR signaling varies with the type and dose of TLR
ligand. However, under conditions of ongoing Th2 inflammation, the adaptive immune
system can act as its own adjuvant and provide the necessary activating signals to initiate an
immune response to foreign protein antigens. This may be the mechanism underlying the …
Summary
The adaptive immune system cannot initiate a response without the “permission” of the innate immune system, and this holds true for Th2 responses to aeroallergens, although induction of Th2 immunity in response to TLR signaling varies with the type and dose of TLR ligand. However, under conditions of ongoing Th2 inflammation, the adaptive immune system can act as its own adjuvant and provide the necessary activating signals to initiate an immune response to foreign protein antigens. This may be the mechanism underlying the clinically observed phenomenon of polysensitization in atopic patients and provides another therapeutic target in asthma.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins