This survey outlines recent findings in the cellular and molecular biology of allergy and reviews their contribution to the understanding and management of various organ-based diseases and syndromes.

Leading international researchers and clinicians review the latest findings on the cellular and molecular foundations of allergic diseases, particularly those of the airway, skin, and bowel. The key topics treated span the range from epidemiology and the mechanisms of inflammation, to signaling in pathogenesis and allergic reactions. Each contributor treats the pathophysiology of allergy in various organ-based diseases and syndromes, emphasizing important new findings from cellular and molecular biology that illuminate these diseases, but also reveal important leads for the development of novel drugs and therapeutic strategies. Its up-to-date, clinically relevant approach will establish the book as the new standard knowledge base - not only for specialists in clinical immunology and allergy, but also for internists seeking a deeper understanding of the allergic diseases they treat, for scientists studying the cellular and molecular biology of inflammation and immunity, and for researchers focused on drug discovery and therapeutics.

Part I. Epidemiology/IGE. Molecular Mechanisms of Isotype Switching to IGE Donata Vercelli. Cytokines and IGE Regulation Juha Punnonen and Jan E. de Vries. Environmental Allergens Thomas A. E. Platts-Mills Judith A. Woodfolk and Lisa M. Wheatley. Ontogeny of Allergy Bengt Bjorksten. Part II. Inflammation: Cellular Aspects. The Role of the Bone Marrow in Allergic Disease Mark D. Inman Roma Sehmi Paul M. O'Byrne and Judah A. Denburg. The Role of Mast Cells in Inflammation and Homeostasis Angus J. MacDonald Fiona L. Wills Tong-Jun Lin and A. Dean Befus. Human Langerhans Cells Thomas Bieber. Eosinophils Redwan Moqbel and Paige Lacy. Role of Basophils in Allergic Reactions Peter Valent. Neurogenic Inflammation in Allergic Disease Peter J. Barnes. Inflammation: Th1/Th2 Cells Sergio Romagnani. T-Cells in the Pathogenesis of Asthma and Allergic Diseases Marc Humbert and Stephen R. Durham. Role of CD8+ T-Cells in the Regulation of Immunoglobulin E Paul A. MacAry and David M. Kemeny. Airway Wall Structure Peter K. Jeffery Mariusz J. Gizycki and Andrew V. Rogers. Epithelium Mary H. Perdue and Derek M. McKay. Part III. Inflammation: Molecular Aspects. Proinflammatory Cytokines in Allergic Disease Daniel L. Hamilos. Hemopoietic Cytokines: Function Receptor and Signal Transduction Hirokazu Kurata and Ken-ichi Arai. Adhesion Receptors in Allergic Disease Andrew J. Wardlaw. Cell/Cytokine Interactions David H. Broide. Signaling in Mast Cells Anthony P. Sampson and Martin K. Church. Signaling in Human Basophils Donald MacGlashan Jr. Eosinophil Signal Transduction Hirohita Kita. Part IV. Pathogenesis. Pathogenesis of Allergic Rhinitis Niels Mygind and Ronald Dahl. Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Urticaria Allen P. Kaplan. Atopic Eczema Johannes Ring Ulf Darsow and Dietrich Abeck. Pathogenesis of Asthma Paul M. O'Byrne. Pathogenesis of Allergic Conjunctivitis Sergio Bonini and Stefano Bonini. Part V. Therapeutics. Glucocorticoids (Corticosteroids) Christopher J. Corrigan. a-Agonists Harold S. Nelson. Sodium Cromglycate and Nedocromil Sodium Alan M. Edwards Alexis E. Harper Ken Rainey and Alan A. Norris. Airway Remodeling and Repair Peter M. Hockey Ratko Djukanovic William R. Roche and Stephen T. Holgate. Index.