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A role for cellular immunity in the induction of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by small molecular weight
J Garssen1, F P Nijkamp, H van der Vliet
1National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In a murine model it was shown that during a T help-1 cell dependent immune reaction, i.e. delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), directed against the small molecular weight compound picryl chloride (PCI), altered lung functions are induced. Skin sensitization with PCI followed by intranasal hapten challenge resulted in an increment of pulmonary resistance and airway hyperresponsiveness which are general features of asthma. Whether this is also true for low molecular weight compounds, such as toluene diisocyanate, that can induce asthmatic complaints in humans, in addition to T help-2 cell dependent immune responses, remains to be clarified in future studies.