The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Mar 2004
Airway peptidoglycan and immunostimulatory DNA exposures have divergent effects on the development of airway allergen hypersensitivities.
Environmental exposures to toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands have been suggested to provide immunologic protection against allergic diseases. However, some TLRs use unique intracellular signaling pathways, suggesting that ambient TLR ligand exposures might induce a range of host responses. ⋯ Considered in a larger context, these results suggest that inspired air is likely to contain TLR ligands capable of both preventing and precipitating the asthmatic phenotype.