Immunopathology of Differing Viral Infection in Allergic Asthma Disease

The pathophysiology of asthma development is heterogenous. Although complex interactions between factors are present in any one individual, early life viral infections have been shown to play a major role through induction of epithelial damage as well as various innate and adaptive immune responses. The cytokine profile that results from epithelial damage leads to Th2 skewing of the adaptive immune response. Most asthma exacerbations in children and up to half of adults are related to viral infections that also induce epithelial damage and an acute predominately Th2 inflammatory response, leading to acute symptoms and chronic airway remodeling.