Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Jul;67(1):e1-18. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0167ST.
The mammalian airways and lungs are exposed to a myriad of inhaled particulate matter, allergens, and pathogens. The immune system plays an essential role in protecting the host from respiratory pathogens, but a dysregulated immune response during respiratory infection can impair pathogen clearance and lead to immunopathology. Furthermore, inappropriate immunity to inhaled antigens can lead to pulmonary diseases. A complex network of epithelial, neural, stromal, and immune cells has evolved to sense and respond to inhaled antigens, including the decision to promote tolerance versus a rapid, robust, and targeted immune response. Although there has been great progress in understanding the mechanisms governing immunity to respiratory pathogens and aeroantigens, we are only beginning to develop an integrated understanding of the cellular networks governing tissue immunity within the lungs and how it changes after inflammation and over the human life course. An integrated model of airway and lung immunity will be necessary to improve mucosal vaccine design as well as prevent and treat acute and chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases. Given the importance of immunology in pulmonary research, the American Thoracic Society convened a working group to highlight central areas of investigation to advance the science of lung immunology and improve human health.
哺乳动物的气道和肺部会接触到大量吸入的颗粒物、过敏原和病原体。免疫系统在保护宿主免受呼吸道病原体方面起着至关重要的作用，但在呼吸道感染期间免疫反应失调会损害病原体清除并导致免疫病理学。此外，对吸入抗原的不当免疫会导致肺部疾病。一个由上皮细胞、神经细胞、基质细胞和免疫细胞组成的复杂网络已经进化，以感知和对吸入抗原作出反应，包括决定促进耐受还是快速、强大和靶向的免疫反应。尽管在理解控制呼吸道病原体和空气抗原免疫的机制方面已经取得了很大进展，但我们才刚刚开始整合理解控制肺部组织免疫的细胞网络，以及它在炎症后和人类生命周期中如何变化。气道和肺部免疫的综合模型对于改进黏膜疫苗设计以及预防和治疗急性和慢性炎症性肺部疾病是必要的。鉴于免疫学在肺部研究中的重要性，美国胸科学会召集了一个工作组，重点强调了推进肺部免疫学科学和改善人类健康的核心研究领域。
