The regulation of allergy and asthma.
Allergic diseases and asthma are caused by exaggerated T-helper 2 (Th2)-biased immune responses in genetically susceptible individuals. Tolerance to allergens is a mechanism that normally prevents such responses, but the specific immunological events that mediate tolerance in this setting are poorly understood. A number of recent studies indicate that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in controlling such Th2-biased responses. Tregs involved in regulating allergy and asthma consist of a family of related types of T cells, including natural CD25+ Tregs as well as inducible forms of antigen-specific adaptive Tregs. Impaired expansion of natural and/or adaptive Tregs is hypothesized to lead to the development of allergy and asthma, and treatment to induce allergen-specific Tregs could provide curative therapies for these problems.
Umetsu
Dale T
DT
Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dale.umetsu@childrens.harvard.edu
DeKruyff
Rosemarie H
RH
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens