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Role of viruses in the onset of asthma and allergy: lessons from animal models[Note 1. Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada (MT‐13766). ...]
Author(s) -
Hegele R. G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00001.x-i2
Subject(s) - sensitization , asthma , immunology , allergy , medicine , respiratory tract , respiratory tract infections , disease , animal model , pathogenesis , respiratory system , pathology
There are several potential mechanisms by which viral respiratory tract infections in childhood might trigger the onset of sensitization to allergens and asthma. To study these potential mechanisms, researchers have developed a number of animal models. In this paper, results of animal experiments are discussed under three headings: (i) chronic sequelae of acute viral infections; (ii) viral infections and sensitization to aeroallergens; and (iii) persistent viral infections. The use of animal models to study the role of viral infections in the induction of allergic sensitization and airway responsiveness has provided intriguing new insights that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of human disease.