As strong as an OX or as weak as a kitten?

摘要

Current asthma therapies in children and adults improve symptoms and reduce future risk of exacerbations [1, 2]. None are truly disease modifying whereby they alter disease onset or after treatment cessation change the natural history of the underlying disease. Indeed, studies in children have failed to demonstrate that early use of corticosteroids alters disease progression [2]. Therefore, disease modifying therapies remain a goal for asthma. Atopic asthma is classically associated with increased expression of T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, which are elevated in sputum [3], and bronchial biopsies [4]. A major effector axis resulting in induction of Th2 polarization is the recognition of allergen presented by dendritic cells in local lymph nodes to CD4+ T cell.