title: Recent advances in understanding the roles of vascular endothelial cells in allergic inflammation.
abstract: Allergic disorders commonly involve both chronic tissue inflammation and remodeling caused by immunological reactions to various antigens on tissue surfaces. Due to their anatomical location, vascular endothelial cells are the final responders to interact with various exogenous factors that come into contact with the epithelial surface, such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and antigens. Recent studies have shed light on the important roles of endothelial cells in the development and exacerbation of allergic disorders. For instance, endothelial cells have the greatest potential to produce several key molecules that are deeply involved in allergic inflammation, such as periostin and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17). Additionally, endothelial cells were recently shown to be important functional targets for IL-33--an essential regulator of allergic inflammation. Notably, almost all endothelial cell responses and functions involved in allergic inflammation are not suppressed by corticosteroids. These corticosteroid-refractory endothelial cell responses and functions include TNF-α-associated angiogenesis, leukocyte adhesion, IL-33-mediated responses and periostin and TARC production. Therefore, these unique responses and functions of endothelial cells may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of various allergic disorders, especially their refractory processes. Here, we review recent studies, including ours, which have elucidated previously unknown pathophysiological roles of vascular endothelial cells in allergic inflammation and discuss the possibility of endothelium-targeted therapy for allergic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: shoda-t@ncchd.go.jp.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoda
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Futamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kanami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emi-Sugie
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Allergy; Angiogenesis; Corticosteroid; Endothelial cells; Inflammation