Abstract
Purpose of Review: It is well established that T helper type 2 (TH2) immune responses are necessary not only to provide protection against helminth parasites but also to promote the detrimental inflammation associated with allergies and asthma. Given the importance of type 2 immunity and inflammation, many studies have focused on better understanding the factors that regulate TH2 cell development and activation. As a result, significant progress has been made in understanding the signaling pathways and molecular events necessary to promote TH2 cell polarization. In addition to the adaptive compartment, emerging studies are better defining the innate immune pathways needed to promote TH2 cell responses. Given the recent and substantial growth of this field, the purpose of this review is to highlight recent studies defining the innate immune events that promote immunity to helminth parasites and allergic inflammation. Recent Findings: Emerging studies have begun to elucidate the importance of cytokine alarmins such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IL-25 (IL-17E), and IL-33 in promoting type 2 immunity and inflammation following helminth challenge or exposure to allergens. Specifically, recent reports have begun to define the complex cellular networks these alarmins activate and their contribution to type 2 immunity and inflammation. Summary: Our increased understanding of the pathways that regulate type 2 cytokine-mediated immunity and inflammation have revealed novel therapeutic targets to treat both helminth infections and allergic disease states.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 346-359 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Current Pharmacology Reports |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2017 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery
Keywords
- Allergies and asthma
- Helminth parasites
- Innate immunity
- Mucosal immunology
- T2 cells
- Type 2 cytokines