title: Dangerous allergens: innate immunity, dendritic cells and allergic asthma.
abstract: Immune responses can be compartmentalized into innate versus adaptive components. This relatively recent dichotomy positioned the innate immune system at the interface between the host and the external environment, and provided a new conceptual framework with which to view allergic diseases, including asthma. Among the cells of the innate immune system, antigen-presenting dendritic cells are now thought to be intimately involved in allergen recognition, as well as modulating allergic immune responses. This review summarizes current thinking regarding the role of dendritic cells in allergic asthma and concludes with a summary of emerging concepts in the field.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 692, Rochester, NY 14642-8692, USA. steve_georas@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Steve N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Georas
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beck