Prior exposure to inhaled allergen enhances anti-viral immunity and T cell priming by dendritic cells.

ABSTRACT: Influenza and asthma are two of the major public health concerns in the world today. During the 2009 influenza pandemic asthma was found to be the commonest comorbid illness of patients admitted to hospital. Unexpectedly, it was also observed that asthmatic patients admitted to hospital with influenza infection were less likely to die or require admission to intensive care compared with non-asthmatics. Using an in vivo model of asthma and influenza infection we demonstrate that prior exposure to Blomia tropicalis extract (BTE) leads to an altered immune response to influenza infection, comprised of less severe weight loss and faster recovery following infection. This protection was associated with significant increases in T cell numbers in the lungs of BTE sensitised and infected mice, as

SUBMITTER: Lee DCP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5749744 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature