Airway response to concomitant exposure with endotoxin and allergen in atopic asthmatics

Epidemiological and in vivo studies suggest that inhaled endotoxin may be a n important environmental factor associated with the increases in asthma-re lated morbidity and mortality. Recent studies by our group and others provi de a rationale for the hypothesis that airway exposure of atopic asthmatics to both allergen and endotoxin might result in greater inflammatory respon ses than those observed with either stimulus alone. Moreover, these studies may provide further evidence that concomitant exposure to allergen and end otoxin is an important factor in asthma pathogenesis.