Innate and inflammatory immune responses in allergy: pathogenic roles and targets of therapeutic interventions

过敏的特点是对无害的环境抗原的异常免疫反应。最近的研究表明，先天免疫系统和炎症过程与适应性免疫机制之间的相互作用对于更好地理解过敏性疾病的发病机制具有重要意义。综合流行病学研究的结果以及临床和实验调查分别特别支持了这些发现。然而，除了遗传因素外，表观遗传因素和组织特异性因素以及微生物、营养和环境参数在调节过敏免疫反应中的作用仍然是一个激烈争论的问题。因此，有必要进一步研究过敏免疫病理过程中潜在的分子机制及其相互作用。除了研究基本的病理生理学原理外，特别重要的是发现有针对性的治疗干预和预防措施的候选对象，因为世界范围内不断增长的过敏受试者需要得到充分的照顾，但迄今为止治疗不足。因此，过敏学的研究需要像风湿病、其他炎症和肿瘤疾病领域的研究一样继续进行。为了满足这些要求，一个重要的先决条件是重点促进优秀的、高水平的转化研究活动。然而，特别是对年轻研究人员的支持在德国充满了明显的结构性缺陷，这使得年轻人从事研究的吸引力下降，而是在其他职业中追求专业生涯。德国过敏和临床免疫学学会（DGAKI）已经启动了几项倡议，积极应对这一发展，加强和扩大过敏学研究。例如，建立了一个支持博士和医学博士学生研究活动的年度研讨会，以及一个自己的“初级成员”部分。在此背景下，由DFG支持的早期职业研究人员讲习班是确定和促进具有卓越科学成就潜力的年轻人才的决定性措施。因此，在已经启动的结构性措施的基础上，本提案旨在从DFG获得资金，为过敏症研究领域的早期职业研究人员举办一个讲习班。

Allergies are characterized by aberrant immune responses against harmless environmental antigens. Recent research indicates that the interplay between the innate immune system and inflammatory processes on the one hand and adaptive immune mechanisms on the other hand are of major relevance for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. These findings are in particular supported by the results of comprehensive epidemiologic studies and by clinical and experimental investigations, respectively. However, the role not only of genetic but also epigenetic and tissue specific factors as well as microbial, nutritive and environmental parameters in modulating allergic immune responses is still a matter of intensive debate. Thus, there is a high need for further studies to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms and their mutual interactions in the context of immunopathological processes in allergy. Besides investigating elementary pathophysiological principles it is of special importance to detect candidates for targeted therapeutic interventions and preventive measures, as there is a particular demand for an adequate care of the worldwide growing and so far insufficiently treated number of allergic subjects. As a consequence, allergological research needs to proceed as it has been already the case in the fields of rheumatological, other inflammatory and tumor diseases. To fulfill these requirements, a substantial prerequisite is the focused promotion of excellent, high-level translational research activities. However, especially the support of young researchers is fraught with distinct structural deficits in Germany, which make it less attractive for young people to perform research but rather to pursue a professional career in other occupations. The German Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI) has started several initiatives to actively counteract this development and both reinforce and expand allergological research. For example, an annual workshop supporting research activities of PhD and MD students as well as an own ‘junior member’ section has been established. In this context, a workshop for early career investigators supported by the DFG constitutes a decisive measure to identify and promote young talents with potential for excellent scientific achievements. Thus, building on already initiated structural measures this proposal aims at receiving funding from the DFG to implement a workshop for early career investigators in the field of allergological research.