Allergy (and clinical immunology)

"A blog about allergy, asthma & immunology"

Schmitt, Duval, et al. show that TL1A is an epithelial cytokine that cooperates with IL-33 in the initiation of allergic airway inflammation. Similar to IL

Comparable production of IL-4 by both TFR and TFH cells. A helper role for TFR cells in food allergy was previously demonstrated with the use of TFR cell–deficient Foxp3CreBcl6fl/fl (Bcl6FC) mice (18).

Urticaria is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects up to 20% of the world population at some point during their life. It presents with wheals, angioedema or both due to activation and degranulation of skin mast cells and the release of histamine and other mediators. Most cases of urticaria are acute urticaria, which lasts ≤6 weeks and can be associated with infections or intake of drugs or foods. Chronic urticaria (CU) is either spontaneous or inducible, lasts >6 weeks and persists for >1 year in most patients. CU greatly affects patient quality of life, and is linked to psychiatric comorbidities and high healthcare costs. In contrast to chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) has definite and subtype-specific triggers that induce signs and symptoms. The pathogenesis of CSU consists of several interlinked events involving autoantibodies, complement and coagulation. The diagnosis of urticaria is clinical, but several tests can be performed to exclude differential diagnoses and identify underlying causes in CSU or triggers in CIndU. Current urticaria treatment aims at complete response, with a stepwise approach using second-generation H1 antihistamines, omalizumab and cyclosporine. Novel treatment approaches centre on targeting mediators, signalling pathways and receptors of mast cells and other immune cells. Further research should focus on defining disease endotypes and their biomarkers, identifying new treatment targets and developing improved therapies. Urticaria is an inflammatory skin disorder that presents with itchy wheals and/or angioedema mediated by skin mast cells and release of histamine and other mediators. This Primer by Kolkhir et al. summarizes the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of urticaria, and discusses patient quality of life and open research questions for this condition.

The inflammation process plays a crucial role in allergic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Although the pulmonary epithelium, the carpet of cells that forms the inner surface of the lungs, is recognized as a major player in the respiratory inflammation that causes these diseases, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood.

IL-36γ was upregulated in the lungs of chronic asthma mice, and it contributed to the airway remodeling. IL-38 can alleviate the airway remodeling in asthma by