Dendritic cells as regulators od the immune response to inhaled allergen: Recent findings in animal models of asthma

Antigen-presenting dendritic cells are essential for the recognition and pr esentation of allergens to the cells of the immune system. Airway dendritic cells capture allergen in the mucosa and present it to naive T cells after migration into the draining lymph nodes. In this review article, we discus s the most recent findings from animal models of asthma, which highlight an essential role for these cells in the induction and maintenance of eosinop hilic airway inflammation. This increasing knowledge might lead to the iden tification of new targets for the prevention and therapy of asthma, Copyrig ht (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.