Systemic and local airways inflammatory response to endotoxin.
Endotoxin can be detected in house dust. Numerous studies have revealed that endotoxin exposure is a risk factor in increasing airway obstructive manifestations, both in occupational and domestic environments. In humans, inhalation of pure endotoxin induces systemic symptoms and a change in bronchial non-specific responsiveness, related with changes in blood and sputum inflammatory markers. However, some recent work suggests that, prior to airway disease development, endotoxin may have an atopy-protective effect. In particular, indoor endotoxin exposure in early life may protect against allergen sensitisation by enhancing type-1 immunity. Finally, since large variations between human immune responses to endotoxin have been reported, genetic mutations could alter the mechanisms of endotoxin recognition and contribute to the risk of atopy.
Michel
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Clinic of Allergology and Respiratory Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Haute 290, B1000, Brussels, Belgium. omichel@ulb.ac.be
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000485:Allergens; D004731:Endotoxins