The homologous lipocalins Can f 1 and Lcn-1 induce different immune responses

Background Why and when the immune system provokes TH2 mediated allergic immune responses is still not well understood. Dendritic cells are one of the master regulators during the induction of allergic airway inflammation providing stimuli for TH2 cell differentiation. Most of the major as well as minor mammalian allergens causing respiratory sensitization belong to the lipocalin family. We investigated two homologous lipocalins, the endogenous non-allergenic human Lcn-1 and the major respiratory dog allergen Can f 1 to study their effects on human monocyte derived dendritic cells in order to initiate allergic immune responses.