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The role of allergy in the development of asthma

Nature volume 402, pages 12–17 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that initial sensitization to airborne environmental allergens occurs typically in early childhood, but subsequent progression to persistent atopic asthma, which may not manifest for several years, is restricted to only a subset of atopics. The key to establishing the link between atopy and asthma lies in the development of persistent inflammation in the airway wall, resulting in structural and functional changes in local tissues which are responsible for the symptoms of the disease. This review summarizes recent findings on the nature of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process, and addresses the issue of why the intensity and duration of these tissue-damaging responses in the airway wall apparently exceeds the critical threshold required for development of persistent asthma in only a minority of allergy sufferers.

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Figure 1: Major cell types implicated in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic allergic reactions.
Figure 2: Transverse sections of the central airway from a subject with chronic asthma.
Figure 3: Progression from primary allergic sensitization in early childhood to atopic asthma in later life.

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Notes

  1. *Terms in italic are defined in the glossary on p. 39.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, Perth, WA 6872, Australia

    P. G. Holt, C. Macaubas, P. A. Stumbles & P. D. Sly

  2. Departments of Microbiology (P.G.H.) and Paediatrics (P.D.S.), University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia

    P. G. Holt, C. Macaubas, P. A. Stumbles & P. D. Sly

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Holt, P., Macaubas, C., Stumbles, P. et al. The role of allergy in the development of asthma. Nature 402 (Suppl 6760), 12–17 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/35037009

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