title: Lung dendritic cell-epithelial cell crosstalk in Th2 responses to allergens.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to be responsible for the initiation and maintenance of adaptive Th2 responses in asthma. It is increasingly clear that DC functions are strongly influenced by crosstalk with neighboring cells like epithelial cells, which can release a number of innate cytokines promoting Th2 responses. Clinically relevant allergens often interfere directly or indirectly with the innate immune functions of airway epithelial cells and DC. A better understanding of these interactions might lead to a better prevention and ultimately to new treatments for asthma.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, University of Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willart
authors.forename: Hamida
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hammad
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens