Allergens and Respiratory Pollutants: The Role of Innate Immunity

by Marc A. Williams (Editor)

Overview

Allergens and respiratory pollutants is a collection of 12 authoritative papers that draws upon the collective expertise of world leaders in the fields of innate immunity, immunotoxicology and pulmonary biology. The book critically explores the biological and immunological mechanisms that contribute to immune dysfunction on exposure to allergens and the susceptibility to infectious disease on exposure to ambient pollutants. The clinical relevance of exposure to ambient airborne xenobiotics is critically discussed and collectively, this book provides an educational forum that links the health effects of environmental exposures, immune dysfunction and inflammatory airways disease. - Discusses recent advances in our understanding of cell-mediated innate immune mechanisms that occur during allergic inflammation and provides important timely coverage of diseases of concern and how such diseases are influenced by a dysfunctional immune system - Provides useful information on linking environmental 'danger signals' that provoke immune dysfunction and exacerbation of existing disease - Draws upon the collective expertise of an international college of leaders in the field, but also provides chapters that provide essential reference material

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781908818065
Publisher:	Woodhead Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	07/18/2011
Series:	Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomedicine
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dr Marc A. Williams is a Biologist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, USA and a former Assistant Professor of Medicine and Environmental Medicine at The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, USA and Instructor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has a long-standing interest and program of research in the field of immunotoxicology and innate immunity. Currently, he is studying the cell-mediated and molecular mechanisms involved in the dysfunction of the pulmonary immune system and the role played by respirable ambient pollutants including diesel exhaust particulate matter and ambient airborne particulate matter in that process. Dr Williams has a distinguished career in basic and translational scientific research. He serves on numerous national leadership committees including those of The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI) and is a fellow of AAAAI. Dr Williams also serves as Associate Editor of Stem Cells and Development and of The Journal of Innate Immunity and serves on the editorial boards of several others including Biomarker Insights, Journal of Receptor, Ligand and Channel Research and ScientificWorldJournal (Immunol & Inflammation Domain). Dr Williams is listed in Marquis Who's Who in America and Cambridge Who's Who of Professionals. He has also been recognized through membership of The Faculty of 1000 (Immunology - Section on Innate Immunity) and is the author of more than 60 original research papers, invited reviews and editorials.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations Editor's note About the editor and contributors Chapter 1: An introduction to allergic inflammation and the innate immune sensing of dangerous ambient pollutants by the dendritic cell Chapter 2: Asthma: primary immunomodulatory pathways Chapter 3: Environmental lung injury and pattern recognition receptors Chapter 4: Asthma exacerbations: a paradigm of synergy between allergens, pollutants and viruses Chapter 5: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation induced by allergic immune response and oxidative stress: role of innate and adaptive immune responses Chapter 6: Effects of air pollutants on allergic sensitization through the airway Chapter 7: Particulate matter and oxidative stress: dangerous partners in inflammation, vascular dysfunction and innate immunity Chapter 8: Diesel exhaust particles and the airway epithelial cell - dendritic cell interface in the control of immune homeostasis Chapter 9: Role of macrophages in adverse pulmonary effects of particulate pollutants Chapter 10: Particulate air pollution and vulnerability to respiratory infections in children Chapter 11: The intersection of respiratory syncytial virus infection, innate immunity and allergic lung disease Chapter 12: Interactions between allergens and dendritic cells: pattern recognition receptors and their function in the pathogenesis of allergic respiratory diseases Index