Functions of T cells in asthma: more than just T(H)2 cells.
Asthma has been considered a T helper 2 (T(H)2) cell-associated inflammatory disease, and T(H)2-type cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13, are thought to drive the disease pathology in patients. Although atopic asthma has a substantial T(H)2 cell component, the disease is notoriously heterogeneous, and recent evidence has suggested that other T cells also contribute to the development of asthma. Here, we discuss the roles of different T cell subsets in the allergic lung, consider how each subset can contribute to the development of allergic pathology and evaluate how we might manipulate these cells for new asthma therapies.
Leukocyte Biology Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK. c.lloyd@imperial.ac.uk
Clare M
CM
Lloyd
Edith M
EM
Hessel
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4