The role of the bone marrow in allergy and asthma.

The above studies have begun to address the fundamental question of the mechanisms of bone marrow involvement and response to allergen challenge in allergic asthmatics. Further studies in this area should complement our investigations in human asthma--which suggest that a particular bias toward differentiation of Eo-Baso progenitors characterizes the atopic state--as well as our findings in the dog model of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, which indicate that the bone marrow responds to inhalation of allergen or corticosteroids. Taken in the context of previous indications that IgE and bronchial responsiveness may both be transferrable through bone marrow transplantation (109), these findings indicate a physiologic role for the bone marrow in allergic inflammation. Likewise, these concepts provide a basis for making certain predictions regarding management and novel therapeutic interventions in atopy and asthma.