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Updated: May 5, 2026
10:38
Culturing of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells at the Air Liquid Interface
Published on: October 9, 2013
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Spring brings breezes, wheezes, and pollen oxidases
Darren R Ritsick1, J David Lambeth
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|August 3, 2005
Summary
Pollen contains an enzyme that triggers allergic reactions in airways by creating "danger signals." This finding suggests targeting pollen
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
- Plant Biology
Background:
- Seasonal allergies and asthma are triggered by pollen uptake in human airways.
- Inflammation is mediated by granulocytes and oxidative stress from NADPH oxidases.
- Granulocyte recruitment was previously believed to require adaptive immune response activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the endogenous activity of pollen and its role in initiating airway inflammation.
- To determine if pollen can trigger granulocyte recruitment independently of the adaptive immune system.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pollen's enzymatic activity.
- Assessment of "danger signal" generation in airway epithelium.
- Observation of granulocyte recruitment in response to pollen exposure.
Main Results:
- Pollen possesses intrinsic NADPH oxidase activity.
- This activity generates local danger signals in airway epithelium.
- Granulocyte recruitment occurs early, even without adaptive immune response.
Conclusions:
- Pollen's endogenous NADPH oxidase activity initiates allergic inflammation.
- Targeting pollen oxidase may offer a novel strategy to inhibit allergic inflammation early.
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