Respiratory host defenses--surface immunity

The mucosal surface of the respiratory tract has an operable immune system, specially designed for producing immunoglobulins (antibodies); however, it has not been harnessed effectively yet to provide local, immunospecific protection against many microbes that enter. Respiratory host responses in humans have been used in this review where possible. New research approaches seem necessary to manipulate the physical and immunologic barriers in the respiratory tract and this may require different antigen preparations, better and more specific vehicles for delivery and selective enhancement of cytokines and interleukins in the mucosa. The immunologic tools are available and need to be explored more in the human model.