Abstract

Asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, which are amongst the most clinically relevant allergic disorders in industrialized countries affecting hundreds of millions of people world-wide, are characterized by tissue infiltration of Th2 cells, eosinophils, mast cells and basophils. Recruitment of these leukocyte subpopulations proceeds in response to specific chemotactic clues produced by tissue resident cells and is further amplified by incoming leukocytes. Over the last decade a number of receptors for chemokines and other chemoattractants have been identified on distinct leukocyte subpopulations participating to the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Preferential expression of discrete chemoattractant receptors on relevant cell types and their up-regulation in affected organs and animal models of allergic inflammation has helped to restrict the list of culprits. Although searching of the appropriate target for pharmacological intervention is still in progress, discrete chemoattractant receptors are already attracting a strong interest from the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we will review the most recent advances on the role that specific chemoattractant receptors play in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation and will discuss emerging developments in this field.

Keywords: leukocyte trafficking, chemotaxis, chemokines, gpcr, th1/th2, cytokines