Article,
The many paths to asthma: phenotype shaped by innate and adaptive immunity
NATURE IMMUNOLOGY, 11 (7): 577-584 (July 2010)
DOI: {10.1038/ni.1892}
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 (T(H)2)-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.
