Role of epithelial cell and innate immune cells in airway inflammation

The airway epithelium is a key modulator of the immune response in the lung through its interactions with innate immune cells such as dendritic cells and innate lymphoid cells. My research program has looked at the role of the airway epithelium and dendritic cells in the establishment of the adaptive immune response in allergic airway inflammation. Using animal models of disease and in vitro assays we have established a critical role of CARMA3 for the immune response to allergens in the lungs. In other work we have established the key role for dendritic cells and macrophages for the recruitment of neutrophils and T cells into the lung.