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Treatment of allergic asthma: Modulation of Th2 cells and their responses
Berislav Bosnjak, Barbara Stelzmueller, Klaus J Erb and 1 more
Respiratory Research · 2011 · Review
Abstract
Atopic asthma is a chronic inflammatory pulmonary disease characterised by recurrent episodes of wheezy, laboured breathing with an underlying Th2 cell-mediated inflammatory response in the airways. It is currently treated and, more or less, controlled depending on severity, with bronchodilators e.g. long-acting beta agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists or anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids (inhaled or oral), leukotriene modifiers, theophyline and anti-IgE therapy. Unfortunately, none of these treatments are curative and some asthmatic patients do not respond to intense anti-inflammatory therapies. Additionally, the use of long-term oral steroids has many undesired side effects. For this reason, novel and more effective drugs are needed. In this review, we focus on the CD4+ Th2 cells and their products as targets for the development of new drugs to add to the current armamentarium as adjuncts or as potential stand-alone treatments for allergic asthma. We argue that in early disease, the reduction or elimination of allergen-specific Th2 cells will reduce the consequences of repeated allergic inflammatory responses such as lung remodelling without causing generalised immunosuppression.
Full text
From PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine, as current on Oct 22, 2026. Paragraph numbers are ours, so an answer can point at one.
Introduction
Asthma is a serious chronic inflammatory lung disease characterised by recurrent episodes of wheezy laboured breathing with prolonged expiration accompanied by dry coughing and viscous mucus. These symptoms result from bronchoconstriction, bronchial mucosal thickening by oedema, eosinophilic infiltration, bronchial wall remodelling and excessive mucus production with plugging of the conducting airways in the lungs. These airway changes lead to increased bronchial hyperreactivity to a variety of allergic and non-allergic stimuli. Obstruction is usually reversible, either spontaneously or in response to appropriate therapy. Asthma affects approximately 300 million people worldwide and can be fatal. Atopic or allergic asthma generally occurs in childhood or young adulthood (under the age of 40) in about 70-80% of cases and is caused by common allergens e.g. pollens, house dust, animal dander, inhalants, foods, drugs and occupationally encountered dust. Atopic asthma is characterised by detectable allergen-specific IgE and a positive skin test upon allergen provocation. The most severe chronic refractory asthma accounts for 5-10% of adults with asthma and is characterised by persistent symptoms and frequent exacerbations, despite treatment with high dose inhaled and/or oral corticosteroids and inhaled β2 adrenoceptor agonists. These patients are at greater risk of fatal and near-fatal exacerbations and display serious unremitting symptoms, resulting in a considerable impact on quality of life, disproportionate use of health care resources and adverse effects from regular systemic steroid use.
The allergic immune response is a complex process beginning with the activation of allergen-specific Th2 cells by antigen presenting cells (APCs) followed by their proliferation, cytokine production, helper functions and the emergence of memory cells (Figure 1). The resulting pathophysiological response includes lung eosinophilic inflammation, oedema, smooth muscle contraction and increased mucus production, resulting in airway obstruction and eventual lung damage. Numerous experimental models and clinical studies support a central role of allergen-specific Th2 cells in pathophysiological responses. Although much is known about the pathogenesis of the disease, the mechanisms underlying Th2 cell differentiation and perpetuation remain unclear. Allergen-specific memory Th2 cells take up long-term residence within experimental mice after recovering from a single episode allergic asthma illustrated by the maintenance of elevated serum allergen-specific IgG1 and persistent inflammatory chronic lung infiltrates. Asthma exacerbations are induced by respiratory tract allergen challenge leading to pathology resembling patients. A reduction or elimination of specific Th2 responses permits the treatment of disease without causing generalised immunosuppression and makes it a prime target for disease abrogation. Although current asthma therapies (especially inhaled corticosteroids and β2-agonists) efficiently control the disease, development of novel drugs is crucial for disease control in patients with severe, corticosteroid-insensitive asthma, as well as for improvement of existing therapies in terms of a more favourable side effect profile. Additionally, the use of highly active drugs that reduce disease in the early stages may obviate the need for high dose steroids later on and may reduce the potential for unremitting, steroid-resistant disease. Current asthma therapies do not cure the disease and symptoms return soon after treatment is terminated. Treatment in the late stages of chronic, severe, unremitting allergic asthma may be too late. It is therefore, important to start treatment early to reduce disease. In the early stages of disease, allergen-specific Th2 memory cells appear to play an important role in initiating the immune response against the offending allergen. Eliminating these pathogenic cells at an early stage may lead to complete disease remission. There is a myriad of strategies to eliminate Th2 memory cells that are promising. This review focuses on these targets during the evolution of the Th2-mediated allergic immune response from allergen presentation to activation and survival of Th2 memory cells (Figure 1).
Improvement of existing anti-Th2 cell therapies
Inhaled and oral corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, theophyline, anti-IgE and specific allergen immunotherapy (AI) are well-established treatments for asthma. Of these therapies, only AI specifically targets Th2 cells. AI is thought to function by either skewing the allergic Th2 response towards Th1 immunity or generating regulatory T cells (Tregs). While the mechanism remains controversial, AI is effective in a subset of patients. Classical immunotherapy or "allergy shots" in the last years is evolving towards non-injectable forms like subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy. Progress in AI focuses on the dose and nature of the allergens, with higher allergen doses improving AI effectiveness and chemically modified allergens (allergoids) increasing efficacy. The production of recombinant allergens of common allergens from DNA sequences that can be mutated, fragmented or chimerised leads to efficient hypoallergenic mixtures of allergens for treatment. Additionally important is the ability of producing T cell epitopes without B cell epitopes, which reduces adverse reactions or new technologies like covalently linked T cell epitopes, DNA vaccines encoding allergens, production of fusion proteins to increase allergen presentation, or expression of recombinant allergens in lactic bacteria able to colonise the gut. Equally promising is the production of random peptide libraries to determine structural equivalents, so called mimotopes, producing shorter peptides, though patients may develop de novo IgE antibodies against the treatment peptide. Although some novel adjuvants such as monophosphoryl lipid A from Salmonella minnesota or heat killed or live Mycobacterium tuberculosis did not meet expectations in clinical trials, other adjuvants like fusion proteins with bacterial surface layer components and cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) oligonucleotides (CpG-ODNs), as well as routes of allergen delivery, in oral microencapsulated forms or embedded in nanoparticles, are being explored.
Strategies to modulate antigen presentation and Th2 cell activation
Dendritic cells (DCs) expressing CD11c+CD11b+, CD16+, CD141+ or CD8α predispose to allergic asthma. Sputum and bronchial biopsies of asthmatic patients contain higher DC numbers in comparison to healthy individuals and are increased after allergen exposure. Asthmatic DCs differ in cytokine, prostaglandin (PG), and chemokine synthesis and costimulatory molecule expression compared to healthy controls. In addition, allergen-pulsed DCs from asthmatic patients, but not healthy controls, preferentially stimulate T- cells to produce IL-4. DCs from asthmatics produce high amounts of PGE2, which decreases IL-12 and increases CCL17 and CCL22 production from DCs causing the polarisation of DCs, which promote Th2 cell differentiation and recruitment. Recently, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has emerged as a key mediator, which promotes DC-induced Th2 differentiation through the interaction of OX40:OX40L. Inhibition of DC-mediated antigen presentation represents a suitable treatment option for allergic diseases. While DCs are the most potent APCs, other cells also contribute to antigen presentation and may provide useful targets. Table 1 illustrates the cell type, target and mechanism of action for compounds and biologicals that reduce antigen presentation to Th2 cells and their subsequent activation.
Interference with Th2 differentiation and activation
Antigen presentation induces clonal expansion and differentiation of naïve Th cells into mature Th1, Th2, Th17 or inducible Tregs [reviewed in]. Th2 cell polarisation is mediated by transcription factors, including GATA-3, which are crucial for Th2 lineage commitment. Initial signals that drive Th2 differentiation induce expression of the GATA-3, which mediates Th2 differentiation by inducing chromatin remodelling of Th2 gene loci, direct transactivation of Th2 gene expression and inhibition of IFNγ expression. Furthermore, GATA-3 expression must be sustained to maintain a Th2 phenotype. Beside other important factors, microRNAs have recently emerged as regulators of gene expression during differentiation and function [reviewed in]. Numerous microRNAs play important roles in asthma and selective inhibition of these molecules can be utilised to specifically target development of Th2 cells. Examples of other signal transduction pathway targets and their inhibitors are listed in Tables 2 and 3. Unfortunately, most of these targets are not selectively expressed in Th2 cells and their inhibitors have broad immunosuppressive effects.
Modulation of effector cytokines
The interplay between cells and cytokines involved in Th2-mediated disease is complex. Th2 cells secrete and express a variety of cytokines and receptors. In the past decade, mAbs targeting the most prominent Th2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 have had variable success in clinical trials and the perception is that effectiveness will be improved by inhibiting two or all of them simultaneously. Furthermore, additional cytokines including IL-9 and IL-31 are secreted by Th2 cells and might represent novel or additive targets. Moreover, cytokines secreted by other cells such as Th1, Th17 and Tregs may suppress Th2 cell function. Importantly, augmenting suppressive effects and inhibiting disease-promoting effects of T cells may lead to new compounds. Table 4 illustrates examples of cytokines secreted by Th2 cells, have direct effects on Th2 differentiation or are involved in differentiation of other helper T cell subtypes that could inhibit Th2 cells.
Interference of Th2 cell homing and adhesion
Chemokine-chemokine receptors (CKRs) are a complex system of 42 molecules and 19 receptors that orchestrate leukocyte migration in physiologic and pathologic conditions. Among CKRs, CCR4, CCR8, CXCR4 and CCR3 appear to be selectively expressed on Th2 lymphocytes making them potentially important specific Th2 cell targets. CCR4 regulates chemotaxis of Th2 cells and its ligands CCL17 and CCL22 are elevated in allergic asthma. Hence, selective CCR4 antagonists, such as bipiperidinyl carboxylic acid amides, or antibodies directed against CCR4 ligands could be promising treatments. However, CCR4 is also expressed on Tregs and cells with either Th1 or Th2 potential leading to CCR4 inhibitors causing immunosuppressive effects. CCR8 expression also appears to be increased in lung and airway Th2 cells in asthmatic patients. Airway eosinophilia and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), however, are not diminished in CCR8-/- mice and adoptively transferred Th2 cells not expressing CCR8 accumulate in the lungs. Despite these contrasting results, several CCR8 agonists and antagonists are in development and might help to clarify the role of CCR8 in disease pathogenesis. CXCR4 is also involved in Th2 cell migration into the lungs and treatment of allergic mice with selective CXCR4 inhibitors significantly reduces AHR and inflammatory responses, supporting the further development of CXCR4 antagonists for asthma treatment. CCR3, which regulates eosinophil and mast cell accumulation into the lungs, is expressed on Th2 lymphocytes. CCR3 inhibition is a promising Th2 cell target that reduces innate and adaptive allergic inflammation. TPI ASM8 is a compound that contains modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting CCR3 and the common beta chain of the receptors of GM-CSF, IL-5 and IL-13, decreases airway inflammation in humans after allergen exposure and is under clinical evaluation. Other CKRs that appear to regulate CD4+ T cell homing to the lungs in asthma include CCR5, CCR6, CCR7 and CXCR3. CCR7 is a CKR expressed on a large number of naïve and memory T cells and therefore does not represent suitable target. Expression of CCR5, CCR6 and CXCR3 is related to Th1 (CXCR3 and CCR5) or Th17 (CCR6) cells. Thus, it is possible that CKR agonists, rather than antagonists, might inhibit Th2 cells in asthma. Importantly, the chemokine system is highly redundant with promiscuous chemokine-CKR interactions, suggesting that a single chemokine or CKR could have compensatory mechanisms leading to unexpected side effects. Moreover, blocking of a single chemokine or CKR might also not have an effect due to this redundancy.
CRTH2 is a mediator involved in the migration and activation of basophils, eosinophils and Th2 cells. CRTH2 inhibition leads to attenuated airway hyperreactivity and inflammation in animal models. Ramatroban, a dual thrombroxane A2 receptor (TP) and CRTH2 receptor antagonist, suppresses eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro and in vivo and is approved for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in Japan. Numerous other CRTH2 antagonists, such as 4-aminotetrahyrochinoline derivatives or indoleacetic acid derivatives, are currently under development and OC000459 is in clinical trials for the treatment of allergic asthma (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01057927, NCT00890877). The CRTH2 receptor is a DP2 receptor. Biological effects of PGD2 and PGH2 are mediated by D prostanoid receptor 1 (DP1) and CRTH2 (DP2). PGD2 activates DP1, thereby affecting NK cells and their cytokine production into a profile more favourable for Th2 skewing. PGH2 is implicated in the accumulation of CRTH2+ cells at sites of inflammation. Additionally, as discussed above, PGE2 polarises DCs to promote Th2 cell differentiation and recruitment. These effects of PGE2 seem to be mediated by PGE2 receptor type 2 (EP2) and type 4 (EP4). Therefore, PGs and CRTH2 appear to be promising Th2 cell-specific targets.
While homing receptors are important for Th2 cell migration, several adhesion molecules also play a role. For example, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and ICAM-2 play important roles in T cell migration in the lungs and ICAM-1 deficiency reduces leukocyte infiltration into the airways, as well as IL-4 and IL-5 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Additionally, VCAM-1 plays a role in eosinophil migration and activation in addition to T cell trafficking. There are no clinical data to date for mAbs against ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in the treatment of asthma. Other potential adhesion targets include VLA-4 (α4ß1 integrin) or P-, E- and L-selectins. Natalizumab blocks both α4ß1 and α4ß7 integrins, but was discontinued due to severe side -effects. Novel α4 integrin mAb LLP2A reduces AHR and inflammation in mouse allergic asthma. Unfortunately, initial results with VLA-4 antagonist GW559090 were disappointing, but newer and safer alternative VLA-4 antagonists are in development. Lastly, a pan-selectin inhibitor is currently in phase IIa clinical trials for COPD, might also be promising for asthma. None of these adhesion molecules is selectively expressed on Th2 cells.
The anticoagulant heparin has anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit leukocyte extravasation. IVX-0142 is a heparin-derived hypersulfated disaccharide that appears to be well-tolerated and shows a trend towards attenuation of asthmatic responses, but does not affect AHR. Additional studies are needed to evaluate effects of these molecules on Th2 cells.
Inhibition of long-lived Th2 memory cells
It is possible that long-lived Th2 memory cells establish anti-apoptotic mechanisms for long-term maintenance, which when inhibited may result in cell death. Interfering with mechanisms for their longevity in the lungs may eliminate Th2 cells. Corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors and the cysteine leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast have pro-apoptotic effects on activated T cells, one of the many mechanisms that lead to their effectiveness in asthma. CX3CR1 seems to provide a survival signal for lung Th2 and Th1 cells, which when inhibited reduces allergic inflammation. T cells from p53-deficient mice have decreased apoptosis and increased Th2 differentiation, cytoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) promotes T cell apoptosis and CTLA-4-deficient Th cells are directed towards Th2 differentiation. Additionally, the ratio of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 over pro-apoptotic protein Bax in peripheral blood lymphocytes of asthmatic patients is increased in comparison to healthy controls. Interestingly, Th2 cells express less Fas ligand (FasL) and are more resistant to apoptosis than other Th subtypes. Moreover, the Th2 cytokine IL-4 reduces FasL, while Th1 cytokines IFNγ, TGFβ and IL-2 increase FasL expression. Regulation of FasL plays an important role because FasL-expressing T cells are pivotal during the resolution of airway inflammation and intratracheal delivery of DCs co-transfected with FasL and allergen genes before allergen challenge-induced T cell apoptosis and decreased airway inflammation in mice. Induction of Fas expression on Th2 cells might be a possible treatment approach that would decrease their survival in the lungs despite the fact that Th2 cells are somewhat resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis. An additional important pathway for apoptosis in T cells involves granzyme B, which is critical for activation-induced cell death. Inhibition of granzyme B rescues Th2 cells from apoptosis, suggesting that selective activation of granzyme B in Th2 cells might be a novel target. Another possibility is that increased apoptosis of Tregs and their protection from apoptosis might be a method of treating disease but there is little information related to cell death of Tregs in allergic diseases and it is possible that dysregulated apoptosis of Tregs may contribute to allergic asthma.
New categories of targets: Statins and Rho kinases; TIM proteins; Galectins; Siglecs; Arginases; Histone deacetylase inhibitors; Pathogens and Toll-like receptors
Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering drugs that also possess anti-inflammatory and immune properties. Simvastatin, Lovastatin and Pravastatin reduced eosinophilia and Th2 cytokines in animal models of asthma. Clinical trials evaluating Simvastatin (NCT00792337), Lovastatin (NCT00689806) and Atorvastatin (NCT00463827), are ongoing or completed, but data are not yet available. Some statins exert their action through regulation of Rho kinases, which are expressed at high levels in airway smooth muscle and regulate their contractility, but inhibition appears to impair lymphocyte cytokine secretion.
The genes for the T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain (TIM) proteins are encoded in the T cell and airway phenotype regulator region on chromosome 11. Initial results indicate that although TIM-1 is involved in Th2 cell differentiation and is associated with Th2-mediated diseases, it also regulates Th17 and Treg development. Furthermore, TIM proteins are expressed by other immune- cell types. Because TIM proteins do not exclusively regulate Th2 cells, they are less useful as targets than originally anticipated.
Galectins are β-galactoside-binding proteins that bind to glycan residues on the surface of mammalian cells. Examples are Galectin-3 and -9, which appear to have numerous functions in T cell activation, differentiation and apoptosis. Airway inflammation and challenge is decreased in Galectin-3 knockout mice and intranasal administration of a plasmid encoding Galectin-3 abates chronic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Galectin-9 binds to TIM-3, which is expressed on Th1 cells and is important for protective immunity against microbes and intravenous administration of Galectin-9 suppresses AHR and airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.
Siglecs are sialic acid-recognising Ig-superfamily lectins. CD33-related Siglecs, which in humans include Siglec-3 and Siglecs-5 through -11, are predominantly found on human leukocytes and involved in innate immunity. Mouse Siglec-F, the equivalent of human Siglec-8, is expressed on eosinophils and regulates their apoptosis. Blocking Siglec-F function with a mAb reduces airway and lung eosinophilia in mice. Although Siglec-8 is a promising target directed against eosinophils, human T lymphocytes express little or no siglec molecules and do not appear to be a candidate for inhibiting Th2 cells.
Arginase I and II are cationic amino acid transporters involved in the metabolism of basic amino acids expressed in inflammatory lesions of patients with allergic asthma. Arginase gene expression and enzyme activity are enhanced by IL-4 and IL-13. Inhibition of arginase I by RNA interference suppresses IL-13-mediated AHR in a murine model of asthma and inhalation of an arginase inhibitor decreases AHR and airway inflammation in a guinea pig model of asthma. Conversely, deletion of arginase in macrophages impairs their ability to suppress Th2-dependent inflammation and fibrosis. Further research is needed in order to clarify the role of arginases in Th2 immunity.
Histone deacetylases (HDAC) appear to play an important role in cytokine transcription. Corticosteroid signalling requires HDAC2 to suppress inflammatory gene products and HDAC2 activity is diminished in corticosteroid-resistance. HDAC inhibitor Trichostatin A reduces allergic airway inflammation by decreasing expression of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5 and IgE. In contrast, HDAC1 appears to be a negative regulator of Th2 cytokine expression. Chromatin modification enzymes might be potential targets for inhibition of Th2-mediated diseases.
Many microbials or their proteins inhibit Th2 immune responses in murine models of asthma by polarising towards Th1 immunity or by generating suppressive Tregs. Interestingly, microbial agents have both time- and dose-dependent effects on allergic asthma. Certain allergens such as dust mite Der p2 and Der f2, bind LPS and are related to the MD-2 protein of the LPS-binding component of the TLR4 signalling complex, which might influence the induction of Th2 responses demonstrating a potential for microbials augmenting rather than reducing Th2 responses. Alternatively, bacterial DNA or chemically synthesised de novo unmethylated CpG are immunostimulatory ligands that bind to TLR9 and induce strong Th1 immune responses [reviewed in]. Such bacterial and synthetic DNA immunostimulatory oligonucleotides (ISS-ODNs) containing CpG motifs suppress Th2 responses during the sensitisation phase or immediately before challenge in experimental asthma [reviewed in]. They have therapeutic and prophylactic properties, including suppression of DC migration and co-stimulatory molecule expression and inhibition of IgE-dependent Th2 cytokine release from mast cells and basophils. Moreover, ISS-ODNs added to allergen immunotherapy significantly reduce clinical symptoms in patients with asthma.
Conclusions
Th2 cells and/or their secreted effector molecules mediate the immune response to allergens and are triggered by exposure to specific allergens leading to allergic asthma. Thus, inhibiting or eliminating Th2 cells is a beneficial strategy for treating asthma as long as generalised immunosuppression is avoided. Additionally, it is especially important to consider targeting Th2 cells early in disease because when disease is chronic additional factors may cause perpetuation. Although there are a myriad of potential Th2 targets (Figure 2), the optimal, most effective anti-Th2 cell target for the clinic remains elusive.
Aside from anti-IgE therapy for severe asthma, there are no major new drugs for the treatment of asthma in the last 20 years. The latest research in allergic asthma that has elucidated key factors governing Th2 immunity and identified potential targets is predominantly from animal models. Now, the challenge is to discover candidates, which best translate from animal models to patients. However, choosing the most effective new drug target candidate is especially difficult because human data is often lacking or incomplete. Additionally, the use of accurate, predictive biomarkers to evaluate Th2-modulating drugs such as FEV1, Quality of Life, reduction in steroid use, decrease allergen-induced late phase response and others are important to ensure that the efficacy/adverse effect profiles are standardised and enable easier decision-making for the best candidates. We would argue that the most promising new compounds for the clinic are those in which proof of concept in patients is established e.g. anti-IL-13 antibodies and CRTH2 antagonists. Other candidates currently tested in the clinic are anti-IL-5, anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-9 compounds and CCR4 antagonists. However, based on available human data, we suggest that the epithelial cell-derived cytokines TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33, which drive Th2 responses are the most promising candidates, with TLSP the clear frontrunner.
Steroids are efficient for treating asthma because they inhibit numerous pro-inflammatory responses and induce numerous anti-inflammatory pathways. Thus, targeting a single mediator may not suffice for the treatment of allergic asthma because of the redundant immune and inflammatory pathways involved upon allergen challenge. Thus, we suggest that targeting more than one molecule simultaneously using dual specific antibody/protein platforms to engineer new drugs will be the next major approach in drug discovery. However, while this approach creates a scenario in which numerous targets can be combined, the caveat is that optimal candidates must be carefully chosen. Another important consideration for the therapeutic strategy for allergic asthma is that drugs may need to be developed for specific subtypes of disease in which particular cellular and molecular pathways drive the disease. One example is the anti-IL-5 mAb, which is only effective in asthmatics with very high sputum and lung eosinophil numbers. This example suggests that it is beneficial to better categorise patients and consider personalised medicine based on a clear classification of disease.
These are exciting times for Th2 cell immunology as the results of basic research are defining key molecular and cellular components in the response to allergens. This information is already being converted to targets that are being tested in the clinic. Currently, irrespective of approach, we consider that a successful strategy for the treatment of allergic asthma will include a selective inhibition of Th2 cells with the ultimate aim of eliminating allergen-specific Th2 immune responses. We anticipate that new candidates will be approved in the near future and offer treatment options for patients suffering with asthma and other allergic diseases.
List of abbreviations
AHR: Airway hyperresponsiveness; AI: Allergen immunotherapy; APC: Antigen presenting cell Bcl: B cell lymphoma; Th: CD4+ T helper; CKR: Chemokine receptor; CRTH2: Chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells; CpG: Cytosine-guanine dinucleotides; CpG-ODN: Cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligonucleotides; CTLA-4: Cytoxic lymphocyte antigen- 4; DC: Dendritic cell; DP1: D prostanoid receptor 1; EGF: Epidermal growth factor; ERK: Extracellular signal regulated kinase FasL: Fas ligand; GM-CSF: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; HDAC: Histone deacetylases; Ig: Immunoglobulin; ISS-ODNs: Immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides; ICAM: Intercellular adhesion molecule; IFN: Interferon; IL: Interleukin; JAK: Janus kinase; JNK: Jun kinase mAb: monoclonal antibody; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinases; PDE: Phosphodiesterase; PI3K: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PD-1: Programmed death-1; PG: Prostaglandin; Siglec: Sialic acid binding Ig-like lectins; STAT: Signal transducer and activator of transcription; SOCS: Suppressor of cytokine signalling; Treg: regulatory T cell; TSLP: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin; TLR: Toll-like receptor; TGF: Transforming growth factor; TNF: Tumour necrosis factor; VCAM: Vascular cell adhesion molecule; VLA: Very late antigen.
Competing interests
Berislav Bosnjak - was employee of GlaxoSmithKline Research Centre Zagreb Ltd. until December 2008. No other competing interests.
Barbara Stelzmüller - none
Klaus J. Erb - is an employee of BoerhingerIngelheim Pharma, Respiratory Diseases Research, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
Michelle M. Epstein - received funding from BoerhingerIngelheim Pharma, Respiratory Diseases Research, Biberach an der Riss, Germany for collaborative project
Authors' contributions
BB - was involved in drafting the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content; and has given final approval of the version to be published.
BS - made substantial contributions to conception of the review, was involved in drafting the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content; and has given final approval of the version to be published.
KE - made substantial contributions to conception of the review, was involved in drafting the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content; and has given final approval of the version to be published.
ME - made substantial contributions to conception of the review, was involved in drafting the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content; and has given final approval of the version to be published.
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Yerkovich ST Roponen M Smith ME McKenna K Bosco A Subrata LS Mamessier E Wikstrom ME Le Souef P Sly PD Allergen-enhanced thrombomodulin (blood dendritic cell antigen 3, CD141) expression on dendritic cells is associated with a TH2-skewed immune responseJ Allergy Clin Immunol2009 123209216e204
Not in our library10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.009
- 28.
Hammad H de Vries VC Maldonado-Lopez R Moser M Maliszewski C Hoogsteden HC Lambrecht BN Differential capacity of CD8+ alpha or CD8- alpha dendritic cell subsets to prime for eosinophilic airway inflammation in the T-helper type 2-prone milieu of the lungClin Exp Allergy2004 3418341840
Not in our library10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02133.x
- 29.
Bertorelli G Bocchino V Zhou X Zanini A Bernini MV Damia R Di Comite V Grima P Olivieri D Dendritic cell number is related to IL-4 expression in the airways of atopic asthmatic subjectsAllergy2000 55449454
Not in our library10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.055005449.x
- 30.
Moller GM Overbeek SE Van Helden-Meeuwsen CG Van Haarst JM Prens EP Mulder PG Postma DS Hoogsteden HC Increased numbers of dendritic cells in the bronchial mucosa of atopic asthmatic patients: downregulation by inhaled corticosteroidsClin Exp Allergy1996 26517524
Not in our library10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00571.x
- 31.
Bratke K Lommatzsch M Julius P Kuepper M Kleine HD Luttmann W Christian Virchow J Dendritic cell subsets in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after segmental allergen challengeThorax2007 62168175
Not in our library10.1136/thx.2006.067793
- 32.
Chen XQ Yang J Hu SP Nie HX Mao GY Chen HB Increased expression of CD86 and reduced production of IL-12 and IL-10 by monocyte-derived dendritic cells from allergic asthmatics and their effects on Th1- and Th2-type cytokine balanceRespiration2006 733440
Not in our library10.1159/000087457
- 33.
Hammad H Charbonnier AS Duez C Jacquet A Stewart GA Tonnel AB Pestel J Th2 polarization by Der p 1--pulsed monocyte-derived dendritic cells is due to the allergic status of the donorsBlood2001 9811351141
Not in our library10.1182/blood.v98.4.1135
- 34.
Long JA Fogel-Petrovic M Knight DA Thompson PJ Upham JW Higher prostaglandin e2 production by dendritic cells from subjects with asthma compared with normal subjectsAm J Respir Crit Care Med2004 170485491
Not in our library10.1164/rccm.200311-1595oc
- 35.
Hammad H Lambrecht BN Pochard P Gosset P Marquillies P Tonnel AB Pestel J Monocyte-derived dendritic cells induce a house dust mite-specific Th2 allergic inflammation in the lung of humanized SCID mice: involvement of CCR7J Immunol2002 16915241534
Not in our library10.4049/jimmunol.169.3.1524
- 36.
Kalinski P Schuitemaker JH Hilkens CM Kapsenberg ML Prostaglandin E2 induces the final maturation of IL-12-deficient CD1a+CD83+ dendritic cells: the levels of IL-12 are determined during the final dendritic cell maturation and are resistant to further modulationJ Immunol1998 16128042809
Not in our library
- 37.
McIlroy A Caron G Blanchard S Fremaux I Duluc D Delneste Y Chevailler A Jeannin P Histamine and prostaglandin E up-regulate the production of Th2-attracting chemokines (CCL17 and CCL22) and down-regulate IFN-gamma-induced CXCL10 production by immature human dendritic cellsImmunology2006 117507516
Not in our library10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02326.x
- 38.
Ito T Wang YH Duramad O Hori T Delespesse GJ Watanabe N Qin FX Yao Z Cao W Liu YJ TSLP-activated dendritic cells induce an inflammatory T helper type 2 cell response through OX40 ligandJ Exp Med2005 20212131223
Not in our library10.1084/jem.20051135
- 39.
Shi L Leu SW Xu F Zhou X Yin H Cai L Zhang L Local blockade of TSLP receptor alleviated allergic disease by regulating airway dendritic cellsClin Immunol2008 129202210
Not in our library10.1016/j.clim.2008.07.015
- 40.
Zhu J Paul WE CD4 T cells: fates, functions, and faultsBlood2008 11215571569
Not in our library10.1182/blood-2008-05-078154
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