Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 25(1): 95-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-822309
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Immunomodulation for the Prevention and Treatment of Lung Infections

Theodore J. Standiford1 , Jane C. Deng1
  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
12. März 2004 (online)

Preview

The clearance of microbes from the respiratory tract requires the generation of a vigorous and compartmentalized host immune response. When pulmonary infection occurs in the setting of impaired innate and acquired immune responses, antimicrobial agents alone often cannot cure the host. This article reviews both conventional and experimental approaches to stimulate innate and acquired immune responses. These strategies include immunotherapy to directly enhance effector cell function of phagocytic cells (e.g., cytokine immunotherapy) or skew immune responses toward protective type 1 immunity (e.g., CD40 ligand, CpG dinucleotides, cytokines). Additionally, the role of immunization (either active or passive) in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infection is addressed. Although the clinical context in which these immunomodulatory approaches may be of benefit in the treatment of respiratory tract infection remains uncertain, potential applications of immunotherapy are explored.

REFERENCES

Theodore J StandifordM.D. 

The University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

6301 MSRBIII, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr.

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0642

eMail: tstandif@umich.edu