Functional genomics of the peripheral blood response to allergen inhalation challenge

Objective/purpose In asthmatic individuals, airway narrowing represents the early phase of the asthmatic response to allergen inhalation challenge, occurring within thirty minutes [1]. In 50-60% of allergic asthmatic adults, the early response is followed by the late phase asthmatic response, usually starting between 3-4 hours after allergen inhalation challenge [2], and characterized mainly by cellular inflammation of the airway [3]. The pathways leading to the late response are not completely understood. Understanding these pathways is important for evaluating allergic diseases such as asthma. In contrast to the more transient isolated early response, development of the late response is associated with the hallmark inflammatory features of chronic allergic disease.