Role of IL-4 receptor alpha-positive CD4(+) T cells in chronic airway hyperresponsiveness

摘要

Background: T(H)2 cells and their cytokines are associated with allergic asthma in human subjects and with mouse models of allergic airway disease. IL-4 signaling through the IL-4 receptor a (IL-4R alpha) chain on CD4(+) T cells leads to T(H)2 cell differentiation in vitro, implying that IL-4R alpha-responsive CD4(+) T cells are critical for the induction of allergic asthma. However, mechanisms regulating acute and chronic allergen-specific T(H)2 responses in vivo remain incompletely understood.