TLR ligands alter the phenotype of experimental acute allergic asthma in mice

Introduction: Clinical observations revealed that recurrent asthma exacerbations triggered by viral or bacterial infections are major risk factors for asthma aggravation towards a severe phenotype. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the development of severe asthma remain incompletely understood, recent observations strongly suggest a distinct pathobiology that is not merely an aggravation of the processes responsible for mild-to-moderate asthma. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) producing cells might be involved in these mechanisms ultimately leading to aggravation towards a severe phenotype. The present stud…