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This month's theme
Contents
T HE J OURNAL OF
Allergy Clinical Immunology AND
VOLUME 117 NUMBER 6 d
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY
Y
This month’s theme: The mast cell
About the cover On this month’s cover, we present a stunning mast cell overlaid with the receptor-mediated pathways that regulate mast cell activity. The mast cell plays a role in initiation and amplification of the immune responses. Control of mast cell activation is essential to avoid tissue pathosis and disease. FceRI is responsible for type-I hypersensitivity in allergic disease, while dysregulated signaling through c-kit is responsible for many cases of mastocytosis. Activation of mast cells through G protein– coupled receptors, Toll-like receptors, and other Fc receptors (FccRIII in mice and FceRI in humans) initiates inflammation in disease models. An expanding array of inhibitory receptors and pathyways introduce potential opportunity for therapeutic intervention. This feature issue offers a comprehensive discussion of the biology of the mast cell and its influences in asthma, allergic disease, and anaphylaxis. Reviews by Chang and Shiung, Rivera and Gilfillan, Bradding et al, and Caughey; an Editorial by Metcalfe and Boyce; and invited features by Gurish and Boyce, Sicherer and Bock, and Castells present the latest in our current knowledge of the mast cell’s powers and potential. These theme articles are noted in the Table of Contents by a red starburst beside their titles. Cover design by JDI, LLC.
This month in Beyond Our Pages A study investigated the hypothesis that interpatient variability in the clinical effectiveness of montelukast therapy might be related to polymorphisms in leukotriene pathway candidate genes in different asthmatic patients. d In a murine model of systemic allergic reactions, 2 mechanisms were identified to explain the protective effects of allergy immunotherapy. d Another study provided helpful information related to the ongoing debate about whether treatment with a proton pump inhibitor drug improves the asthma as well as the gastroesophageal reflux disease in individuals who have both disorders. d The role of chitinases in intestinal inflammation has been investigated. Chitinases are enzymes that act on the chitin found in many microorganisms. d A small, controlled study has confirmed an earlier, uncontrolled observation that treatment with etanercept, a soluble recombinant TNF-a receptor, improved some outcome measurements in refractory asthma. d A comprehensive review discussed the basic mechanisms in drug allergy. d A survey explored the prevalence of behavioral problems in a sizable population-based sample of inner-city children with and without asthma symptoms. Ó 2006 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (ISSN 0091-6749) is published monthly (12 issues per year) by Elsevier Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710. Business Office: 1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899. Editorial Office: 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St Louis, MO 63146-3318. Customer Service Office: 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL 32862 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Elsevier Periodicals Customer Service, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800.
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL
June 2006 5A
T HE J OURNAL OF
Allergy Clinical Immunology AND
VOLUME 117 NUMBER 6 d
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY
Y
This month’s theme: The mast cell
About the cover On this month’s cover, we present a stunning mast cell overlaid with the receptor-mediated pathways that regulate mast cell activity. The mast cell plays a role in initiation and amplification of the immune responses. Control of mast cell activation is essential to avoid tissue pathosis and disease. FceRI is responsible for type-I hypersensitivity in allergic disease, while dysregulated signaling through c-kit is responsible for many cases of mastocytosis. Activation of mast cells through G protein– coupled receptors, Toll-like receptors, and other Fc receptors (FccRIII in mice and FceRI in humans) initiates inflammation in disease models. An expanding array of inhibitory receptors and pathyways introduce potential opportunity for therapeutic intervention. This feature issue offers a comprehensive discussion of the biology of the mast cell and its influences in asthma, allergic disease, and anaphylaxis. Reviews by Chang and Shiung, Rivera and Gilfillan, Bradding et al, and Caughey; an Editorial by Metcalfe and Boyce; and invited features by Gurish and Boyce, Sicherer and Bock, and Castells present the latest in our current knowledge of the mast cell’s powers and potential. These theme articles are noted in the Table of Contents by a red starburst beside their titles. Cover design by JDI, LLC.
This month in Beyond Our Pages A study investigated the hypothesis that interpatient variability in the clinical effectiveness of montelukast therapy might be related to polymorphisms in leukotriene pathway candidate genes in different asthmatic patients. d In a murine model of systemic allergic reactions, 2 mechanisms were identified to explain the protective effects of allergy immunotherapy. d Another study provided helpful information related to the ongoing debate about whether treatment with a proton pump inhibitor drug improves the asthma as well as the gastroesophageal reflux disease in individuals who have both disorders. d The role of chitinases in intestinal inflammation has been investigated. Chitinases are enzymes that act on the chitin found in many microorganisms. d A small, controlled study has confirmed an earlier, uncontrolled observation that treatment with etanercept, a soluble recombinant TNF-a receptor, improved some outcome measurements in refractory asthma. d A comprehensive review discussed the basic mechanisms in drug allergy. d A survey explored the prevalence of behavioral problems in a sizable population-based sample of inner-city children with and without asthma symptoms. Ó 2006 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (ISSN 0091-6749) is published monthly (12 issues per year) by Elsevier Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710. Business Office: 1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899. Editorial Office: 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St Louis, MO 63146-3318. Customer Service Office: 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL 32862 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Elsevier Periodicals Customer Service, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800.
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL
June 2006 5A