Abstract
Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient α (LTα-/-) mice exhibit increased airway inflammation, paradoxically accompanied by diminished levels of IgE and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness in response to both environmental and induced antigen challenge. The severe lung inflammation in LTα -/- mice is Th1 in nature and can be alleviated by IgE reconstitution. Conversely, depletion of IgE in wild-type mice recapitulates the lung pathologies of LTα-/- mice. Therefore, this work has revealed that lymphotoxin is essential for IgE production, and a physiological role of IgE in the airway may consist of maintaining the balance of Th1 and Th2 responses to prevent aberrant inflammation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1643-1652 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Medicine |
Volume | 198 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2003 |
Keywords
- Allergen
- Bronchial hyperresponsiveness
- Cytokines
- Infiltration
- T helper cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology