Abstract
Immune modulators can shape the host response to challenge with innocuous antigens and protect against allergic airway inflammation in asthma and possibly other allergic diseases. Among several potential modulators, Flt3-ligand is a novel agent, which prevented and reversed LAR, AHR, and eosinophilia in a murine asthma model. Flt3-ligand induces the generation and peripheral scattering of dendritic cells with preferential expansion of CD8α+ and IL-12 producing dendritic cells. Additionally, Flt3-ligand may also enhance CD4 +CD25+ regulatory T cells in the lungs. Flt3-ligand may prove to be a novel adjuvant therapy in bronchial asthma. In view of numerous immune cells and mediators that contribute to the exacerbations and progress of asthma, it is not surprising that there are likewise numerous potential modalities to treat the disease. Since the dynamic of the TH1/ T H2 phenotype as it relates to allergy and asthma has become more fully appreciated, studies have been focused to modulate this balance with the goal of suppressing type 2 responses (1,2). Largely, these efforts have focused on stimulating antigen-specific TH1 responses, as the T-helper subsets have been shown to be polarizing and mutually antagonistic in nature (3). This article focuses primarily on the strategies and approaches that have been attempted to develop novel and effective therapy of asthma by modulating the immune response.