The role of macrophages and lymphocytes in bronchial asthma: perspectives for new research models.
The role played by macrophages and lymphocytes in allergic asthma is certainly important, since memory and specificity for the allergen are functions typically carried out by such immune cells. However, study of the effect of allergens on macrophages and lymphocytes has been hampered by the lack of suitable in vitro or in vivo models. Bronchoalveolar lavage cells, which undergo important modifications in asthma, represent only part of the cell types involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. The possible integrated use of recombinant DNA, monoclonal antibodies, T-cell clones and continuous cell lines, together with a better understanding of the activation states of phagocytes, could lead to advances both in the understanding and in the treatment of allergic asthma.
Damiani
G
G
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Genova, Italy.
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001709:Biotechnology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D012106:Research