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Updated: May 14, 2026
05:31
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Microbes and mucosal immune responses in asthma
Trevor T Hansel1, Sebastian L Johnston, Peter J Openshaw
1National Heart and Lung Institute, Centre for Respiratory Infection, MRC, London, UK. t.hansel@imperial.ac.uk
Lancet (London, England)
|February 23, 2013
Summary
The microbiome influences immune homeostasis and asthma development. Understanding microbial interactions with the respiratory mucosa offers new pathways for personalized asthma treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Rising global asthma and atopy rates linked to reduced bacterial exposure.
- The microbiome maintains immune homeostasis, influencing responses to pathogens.
- Respiratory viruses and allergens can trigger or worsen asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a unified theory on how microbes induce mucosal inflammation in asthma.
- To explore the role of microbial exposure in the development and exacerbation of asthma.
- To identify potential targets for new, personalized asthma therapies.
Main Methods:
- Investigating host innate sensing systems.
- Utilizing advanced methods to characterize microbial exposures.
- Analyzing interactions between epithelial cells, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes in the respiratory mucosa.
Main Results:
- Innate immune responses involve pattern recognition receptors and pathogen-associated molecular patterns.
- These interactions trigger type I interferons, cytokines, and T-helper-2 responses in susceptible individuals.
- Distinct asthma phenotypes are explained by these coordinated immune responses.
Conclusions:
- Microbial exposure is central to the 'atopic march' and asthma exacerbations.
- New treatments targeting microbial-host interactions are warranted.
- Host biomarkers could enable personalized asthma management.
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