Innate and adaptive immune reponses in asthma
1) Role of microbes and pathogens, their products, and analogues (such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotides) in the modulation of the airway inflammatory response in a murine model of asthma. We have previously demonstrated that administration of CpG at the time of sensitization to allergen (ovalbumin) in a murine model of asthma can prevent the development of eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity. We are now in the process of studying (in vitro and in vivo) the mechanisms through which CpG ODN can accomplish these results and also examining how administration of CpG ODN (with and without specific immunotherapy) can lead to treatment of established inflammatory responses.
2) Regulatory cells in antigen-mediated asthma. We are developing murine models to evaluate the regulatory functions of dendritic cells , T-cells, and other important innate immune cells in the response to atopic airway inflammation and its modulation.
3) Mind-brain-body responses in asthmatic responses.
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