title: Osteopontin and allergic disease: pathophysiology and implications for diagnostics and therapy.
abstract: Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphoglycoprotein that is expressed by various immune cells in a secreted and intracellular form. It has cytokine, chemotactic and cell signaling functions enhancing Th1 and Th17 immunity and protects against apoptosis. Recent studies found OPN to be modulatory in cell-mediated and immediate-type allergic diseases. In allergic asthma, OPN enhances sensitization but downmodulates Th2-driven IL-4-dominated inflammation. The finding that OPN expression is augmented during specific immunotherapy supports a Th2 suppressive effect of OPN. In Th1-driven delayed-type allergy, such as allergic contact dermatitis, OPN supports dendritic cell migration and IL-12 expression and is secreted by T effector cells and keratinocytes, augmenting Th1-mediated allergy and supporting disease chronification. There are numerous missing links as to how OPN variants modulate allergic inflammation through different OPN receptors. OPN research in allergy is an interesting, rapidly expanding field that has high potential for translational research.
authors.affiliation: University of Ulm, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Maienweg 12, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Denis F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Frenzel
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053495:Osteopontin