The impact of air pollutants as an adjuvant for allergic sensitization and asthma.
The current global epidemic of atopy and asthma has been related to the changes in environmental exposures brought about by the development and expansion of industrialized societies. This article reviews the evidence supporting the fundamental role of air pollutants in fostering allergic inflammation of the airways, with emphasis on the molecular and genetic pathways that link ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure to the induction of proinflammatory changes and proallergic effects in the respiratory tract. We propose that the link between PM exposure and proallergic effects involves organic PM components that generate oxygen radicals capable of perturbing the redox equilibrium mucosal immune cells.
Viera
Loida
L
Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Chen
Karin
K
Nel
Andre
A
Lloret
Maria Garcia
MG
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000276:immunology*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D052638:Particulate Matter