The unique and potent Th2 adjuvant, identified
for Alternaria spp, which is partially mediated
through dendritic cells, may explain the strong
association between Alternaria spp and allergic
asthma. Alternaria-induced Th2 development in
the airways in vivo may be due to the synergistic
effects of Alternaria spp on dendritic cells and on
other airway cells, including eosinophils, Mast
cells, and NKT cells (Gioulekas, 2004).