Immune Cell-Mediated Autoimmune Responses in Severe Asthma

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pulmonology
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Severe asthma (SA) presents with diverse inflammatory profiles, including persistent eosinophilic and/or neutrophilic airway inflammation and remodeling.
• Immune cells like eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages contribute to airway damage by releasing inflammatory mediators and extracellular traps.
• Autoimmune responses, involving autoantibodies and immunoglobulin G-dependent inflammation, are increasingly recognized in asthmatic airways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging mechanisms of autoimmune responses in severe asthma.
• To provide insights into the role of these autoimmune responses in disease pathogenesis.
• To propose potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for severe asthma.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on severe asthma, autoimmunity, and inflammation.
• Analysis of the role of immune cells and autoantibodies in airway pathology.
• Identification of potential diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.

Main Results:

• Adult asthmatics show high autoantibody titers linked to disease severity.
• Autoimmune responses in asthma are associated with resistance to current therapies.
• Specific immune cells and autoantibodies contribute to airway epithelial damage and inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Autoimmune mechanisms are critical in severe asthma pathogenesis.
• Identifying autoimmune biomarkers could improve diagnosis and patient stratification.
• Targeting autoimmune pathways offers potential for novel therapeutic strategies in severe asthma.