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The Balance Between Immunity and Inflammation

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The Balance Between Immunity and Inflammation

Lung immunity is calibrated to protect from inhaled pathogens and avoid inflammation

Science,

5 min read
3 take-aways
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What's inside?

How do the lungs respond to inflammatory stimuli? And what’s happening during an asthma attack?

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
  • For Experts

Recommendation

Do you know someone who suffers from asthma? Or perhaps you have experienced the feeling of dread as your lungs work fruitlessly to inhale a fresh gulp of air. New research reports on the asthmatic response to allergens at the cellular level and examines the lungs’ delicate balance between inflammation and immunity. The authors, Darin L. Wiesner and Bruce S. Klein, are leading researchers in the field of immunology. getAbstract recommends their report to those who would like to learn about exciting new targets for future asthma medications.

Summary

An asthma attack results from an imbalance of immune responses in the lungs.

With every breath, a multitude of foreign invaders inundates the lungs. The body’s immune system fights against these toxins, pathogens and other invaders. The lungs must rapidly respond to invasion to maintain biological balance.

The immune system protects the host using both physical barriers (such as mucus) and chemical responses (such as inflammation). This balance is not easy to maintain, a problem researchers call the “Goldilocks” dilemma [after...

About the Authors

Darin L. Wiesner, PhD is a postdoc researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where Bruce S. Klein, MD is a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Klein received the MERIT award, which provides 10 years of funding to the most productive NIH funded investigators. He’s been consecutively ranked as one of the Best Doctors® in America.

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