Abstract

Allergic diseases have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. An understanding of the cellular and soluble mediators that are involved in allergic inflammatory responses not only helps in understanding the mechanisms of current treatments, but is also important for the identification of new targets that are amenable to both small-molecule and biological interventions. There is now considerable optimism with regards to tackling the allergy epidemic in light of improvements in systemic and mucosal allergen-specific immunotherapy, the identification of key cytokines and their receptors that drive T-helper-2-cell polarization, a clearer understanding of the pathways of leukocyte recruitment and the signalling pathways that are involved in cell activation and mediator secretion, and new approaches to vaccine development.

Author affiliations

1. IIR Division, F Level, South Block, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
2. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Catania, Via Passo Gravina, 187, 95, 125 Catania, Italy.

Correspondence to: Stephen T. Holgate¹ Email: sth@soton.ac.uk

Published online 15 February 2008

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