Immunité innée et allergie : les cellules dendritiques

The innate immune system provides a quick response to infection, notably by using sensor receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLR), but it also informs and directs the adaptive immune response through dendritic cells (DC). In the allergic reaction, DC play a fundamental role by transporting allergen to lymph nodes and by inducing allergen-specific T cell responses. The polarized Th2 response induced in allergic patients by DC can be modified by the participation of certain TLR, thereby inhibiting the development of the allergic reaction. Therapeutic approaches using allergens combined with TLR ligands are being evaluated to increase the efficacy of specific immunotherapy.