Omalizumab restores the ability of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells to induce Foxp3⁺Tregs

Allergic sensitisation and viral respiratory tract infections represent main risk factors for asthma development and severity. IgE plays a key role in the pathophysiology of allergic asthma and allergic multimorbidities [1, 2]. Omalizumab, a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody against IgE, has been used to treat allergic asthma in children and adults for many years [3–5]. Omalizumab restores the capacity of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) to produce IFN-α, increasing their antiviral activity and reducing viral-induced asthma exacerbations [6, 7]. pDCs prime Th1 or Th2 responses depending on the encountered antigens. In both cases, they are able to generate functional regulatory T cells (Tregs), suggesting that pDCs display intrinsic tolerogenicity [8, 9].\n\nFootnotes \n\nThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Lopez-Abente has nothing to disclose.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Benito-Villalvilla has nothing to disclose.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Jaumont is an employee of Novartis Pharma AG.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Pfister is an employee of Novartis Pharma AG.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Tassinari reports he is an employee of Novartis Pharma AG.\n\nConflict of interest: Dr. Palomares reports grants from Novartis Pharma AG, grants from MINECO, during the conduct of the study; and Oscar Palomares received research grants from Inmunotek S.L. and Novartis