Type I Interferon as a Regulator of Allergic Inflammation

Type I interferons are critical mediators of antiviral responses and have been shown to be decreased in allergic disease. This lack of normal interferon responses is one mechanism proposed in allergic disease development. We have shown that IgE-mediated inhibition of virus-induced type I interferon promotes Th2 differentiation by human monocytes. While type I interferon is known to be a negative regulator of Th2 development, type I interferon likely has roles on multiple cell types and tissues during allergic sensitization, inflammation, and exacerbation. The goal of this project is to identify the roles of virus-induced type I interferons in regulating allergic disease development.