Focus on Asthma

A fresh perspective on asthma

Published online: 4 May 2012 | doi:10.1038/nm.2777

Abstract - | Full Text - Tumor angiogenesis: molecular pathways and therapeutic targets | PDF (19 MB) - A fresh perspective on asthma

Focus on Asthma

Innate and adaptive immune responses in asthma

Stephen T Holgate

doi:10.1038/nm.2731

Allergen sensitization is triggered by activating receptors of the innate arm of the immune system. This leads to the recruitment and activation of dendritic cells, which have a sentinel role in orchestrating the attendant adaptive response. Stephen Holgate highlights recent findings on how innate receptors are triggered, cellular sources of cytokines driving immune cell activation and the identification of new helper T cell subsets driving chronic allergic airway inflammation.

Abstract - | Full Text - Innate and adaptive immune responses in asthma | PDF (3,208 KB) - Innate and adaptive immune responses in asthma

Focus on Asthma

The airway epithelium in asthma

Bart N Lambrecht & Hamida Hammad

doi:10.1038/nm.2737

The airway epithelium has a sentinel role in initiating allergic responses and asthma. Bart Lambrecht and Hamida Hammad review recent findings on how allergens activate epithelial cells and induce the production of cytokines and chemokines that recruit and activate dendritic cells and other cells of the innate immune system. Activation of these cell types promotes adaptive immune responses, which are, the authors argue, further maintained and perpetuated by their interaction with airway epithelial cells.

Abstract - | Full Text - The airway epithelium in asthma | PDF (2,664 KB) - The airway epithelium in asthma

Focus on Asthma

T cell homing to epithelial barriers in allergic disease

Sabina A Islam & Andrew D Luster

doi:10.1038/nm.2760

Efficient trafficking of lymphocytes between the blood, lymphoid organs and peripheral tissues is essential for an effective immune response. Sabina Islam and Andrew Luster summarize recent findings on the regulation of leukocyte homing to the lungs, gut and skin in allergic inflammation and how leukocyte trafficking can be targeted clinically.

Abstract - | Full Text - T cell homing to epithelial barriers in allergic disease | PDF (3,411 KB) - T cell homing to epithelial barriers in allergic disease

Focus on Asthma

IgE and mast cells in allergic disease

Stephen J Galli & Mindy Tsai

doi:10.1038/nm.2755

Both mast cells and IgE play crucial parts during the initiation and amplification of the allergic response during asthma, as well as during the tissue remodeling that occurs at the chronic stage. This review discusses how these two players can affect the development of asthma through independent and interdependent functions and the therapeutic implications for treating the clinical symptoms derived from allergic disease.

Abstract - | Full Text - IgE and mast cells in allergic disease | PDF (1,565 KB) - IgE and mast cells in allergic disease

Focus on Asthma

Viral infections and atopy in asthma pathogenesis: new rationales for asthma prevention and treatment - pp726 - 735

Patrick G Holt & Peter D Sly

doi:10.1038/nm.2768

Viral infections can worsen episodes of allergic sensitization to allergens, putting the affected individuals, often children, at risk for developing persistent asthma during adult life. Understanding how the mechanisms mediating the antiviral response and driving allergic inflammation caused by allergens interact is crucial. This will provide insights into when and what player or molecule to target for treatment and prevention of asthma in children at the early stages of the disease.

Abstract - | Full Text - Viral infections and atopy in asthma pathogenesis: new rationales for asthma prevention and treatment | PDF (3,126 KB) - Viral infections and atopy in asthma pathogenesis: new rationales for asthma prevention and treatment

Focus on Asthma

Asthma phenotypes: the evolution from clinical to molecular approaches

Sally E Wenzel

doi:10.1038/nm.2678

The growing appreciation of asthma as a heterogeneous disease has led to the concept that asthma consists of multiple, different phenotypes, but now the challenge is to link underlying biology to phenotypes to allow a more robust classification and understanding of asthma. This review discusses the progress in defining asthma phenotypes and provides insights into how to apply this knowledge to provide more personalized approaches to treating asthma.

Abstract - | Full Text - Asthma phenotypes: the evolution from clinical to molecular approaches | PDF (1,112 KB) - Asthma phenotypes: the evolution from clinical to molecular approaches

Focus on Asthma

Therapies for allergic inflammation: refining strategies to induce tolerance

Cezmi A Akdis

doi:10.1038/nm.2754

This review outlines recent advances in the development of therapeutics that induce immune tolerance to treat asthma and allergic disease. It focuses on the distinct approaches of allergen-specific immunotherapy and biological immune modifiers and also highlights the possibility of combining these two strategies to harness the advantages of both types of therapy and address current unmet clinical needs associated with these conditions.

Abstract - | Full Text - Therapies for allergic inflammation: refining strategies to induce tolerance | PDF (2,225 KB) - Therapies for allergic inflammation: refining strategies to induce tolerance

Focus on Asthma

Interleukin-25 induces type 2 cytokine production in a steroid-resistant interleukin-17RB+ myeloid population that exacerbates asthmatic pathology

Bryan C Petersen, Alison L Budelsky, Alan P Baptist, Matthew A Schaller & Nicholas W Lukacs

Published online: 29 April 2012 | doi:10.1038/nm.2735

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Focus on Asthma

Commensal bacteria–derived signals regulate basophil hematopoiesis and allergic inflammation

David A Hill, Mark C Siracusa, Michael C Abt, Brian S Kim, Dmytro Kobuley, Masato Kubo, Taku Kambayashi, David F LaRosa, Ellen D Renner, Jordan S Orange, Frederic D Bushman & David Artis

Nature Medicine : 18, 538–546 (2012) | doi:10.1038/nm.2657

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Focus on Asthma

IL-17A produced by αβ T cells drives airway hyper-responsiveness in mice and enhances mouse and human airway smooth muscle contraction

Makoto Kudo, Andrew C Melton, Chun Chen, Mary B Engler, Katherine E Huang, Xin Ren, Yanli Wang, Xin Bernstein, John T Li, Kamran Atabai, Xiaozhu Huang & Dean Sheppard

Nature Medicine: 18, 547–554 (2012) | doi:10.1038/nm.2684

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Focus on Asthma

The tumor necrosis factor family member LIGHT is a target for asthmatic airway remodeling

Taylor A Doherty, Pejman Soroosh, Naseem Khorram, Satoshi Fukuyama, Peter Rosenthal, Jae Youn Cho, Paula S Norris, Heonsik Choi, Stefanie Scheu, Klaus Pfeffer, Bruce L Zuraw, Carl F Ware, David H Broide & Michael Croft

Nature Medicine: 17, 596–603 (2011) | doi:10.1038/nm.2356

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Focus on Asthma

Bitter taste receptors on airway smooth muscle bronchodilate by localized calcium signaling and reverse obstruction

Deepak A Deshpande, Wayne C H Wang, Elizabeth L McIlmoyle, Kathryn S Robinett, Rachel M Schillinger, Steven S An, James S K Sham & Stephen B Liggett

Nature Medicine: 16, 1299–1304 (2010) | doi:10.1038/nm.2237

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Focus on Asthma

CX3CR1 is required for airway inflammation by promoting T helper cell survival and maintenance in inflamed lung

Cyrille Mionnet, Vanessa Buatois, Akira Kanda, Valerie Milcent, Sebastien Fleury, David Lair, Marie Langelot, Yannick Lacoeuille, Edith Hessel, Robert Coffman, Antoine Magnan, David Dombrowicz, Nicolas Glaichenhaus & Valerie Julia

Nature Medicine: 16, 1305–1312 (2010) | doi:10.1038/nm.2253

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