Bioaerosols and innate immune responses in airway diseases.
Hauswirth, David W a; Sundy, John S b
[Miscellaneous Article]
Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
4(5):361-366, October 2004.
(Format: HTML, PDF)
Purpose of review: We review the role of bioaerosols in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disease. The focus is on recent discoveries in innate immune responses induced by common components of bioaerosols.
Recent findings: Common components of bioaerosols include endotoxin, peptidoglycan and [beta]-glucan; all of which have been associated with inflammatory airway disease. Endotoxin signaling through toll-like receptor 4 is well characterized and updated. Peptidoglycan is now known to signal through three types of molecules: toll-like receptor 2; peptidoglycan recognition proteins; and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain molecules. Beta-glucan, a common fungal cell wall component, signals through the newly discovered receptor, dectin-1. Emerging data indicate that genetic polymorphisms influence the response to bioaerosols.
Summary: Activation of the innate immune system by bioaerosols is becoming better understood. This knowledge provides an opportunity to better prevent and treat airway diseases that result from environmental exposure.
(C) 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
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