title: The role of T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of asthma.
abstract: Recently there have been advances in our understanding of the role of thymic (T) lymphocytes in asthma. In this brief review we discuss evidence for T cell involvement in asthma, with emphasis on T cell surface markers associated with activation and T cell production of cytokines. We proceed to describe how T cells influence inflammatory effector cells such as mast cells and eosinophils. However, mast cells and eosinophils are also capable of cytokine production, and participate in inflammatory cell networks within the bronchial tissue of asthmatics.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, SIAF, Davos.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hansel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blaser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell