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Microbes & Immunity Pulmonary immunity: Pathogens versus protectors

evolved to detect and neutralize harmful agents while 2.1. Inclusion criteria
minimizing collateral damage to delicate lung tissues. Studies included in this review met the following criteria:
Despite ongoing exposure, the lungs are equipped with a (i) Focused on pulmonary immunity, including
highly advanced immune defense network that maintains pathogen–host interactions, immune evasion
homeostasis and protects against infection and injury. strategies, and protective immune responses
4-6
However, many pathogens have developed sophisticated (ii) Published in peer-reviewed journals between 2020
mechanisms to evade or manipulate host immune defenses, and January 2025, ensuring relevance to current
leading to persistent infections, chronic inflammation, scientific knowledge
and respiratory disease. This review explores recent (iii) Were available as full-text articles in English
advancements in understanding the pulmonary immune (iv) Employed in vitro, in vivo, or clinical models to
responses, focusing on the complex interplay between investigate pulmonary immune responses.
evading pathogens and host immune defenses, and how
innovative research is reshaping approaches to respiratory 2.2. Exclusion criteria
health.
Studies were excluded if they:
The balance between pathogen invasion and immune (i) Did not clearly focus on pulmonary immunity or
protection is delicate, and its disruption can lead to lacked relevance to pathogen–host interactions
severe lung diseases – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, (ii) Were published only as abstracts, conference
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and proceedings, or in non-peer-reviewed articles
asthma. While these conditions are often linked to (iii) Contained redundant or overlapping data without
microbiome alterations, environmental pollutants, and providing novel insights
allergens, pathogens still play a significant role. The recent (iv) Focused exclusively on non-respiratory systems
emergence of novel pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, or addressed only non-immunological aspects of
has further highlighted the urgent need to deepen our pulmonary diseases.
understanding of pulmonary immunity and to develop
innovative strategies that strengthen protective responses 2.3. Search strategy
while minimizing harmful inflammation. A systematic search was conducted across major databases
This review explores the dynamic interplay between – including Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web
invading pathogens and the host’s pulmonary immune of Science – using a combination of relevant keywords,
defenses, highlighting cutting-edge research into the including “pulmonary immunity,” “pathogen–host
molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pulmonary interactions,” “immune evasion,” “lung protection,” and
immunity. It emphasizes the dual role of immune cells and “innovative therapies.” Boolean operators (e.g., AND, OR)
mediators as both protectors and potential contributors were used to refine the search strategy. Additional articles
to tissue damage. By examining emerging therapeutic were identified through manual screening of reference
approaches – including immunomodulation, microbiome lists from relevant articles. Only articles published in
engineering, and advanced vaccine technologies – this English between 2020 and January 2025 were considered.
review offers a comprehensive overview of current The initial search yielded 540 articles. After applying the
trends and future directions. A deeper understanding exclusion criteria, 519 articles were removed. Following
of these immune responses may lead to more effective relevance screening, quality assessment, and evaluation
interventions for respiratory infections and chronic lung of their focus on innovative perspectives in pulmonary
diseases, ultimately improving global health outcomes. immune responses, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria
(Figure 1 and Table 1).
2. Methods
2.4. Study selection
This review article employs a systematic approach to
synthesize current literature on pulmonary immune The initial search yielded a broad range of articles,
responses, focusing on the dynamic interplay between which were first screened based on titles and abstracts.
pathogens and host defense mechanisms. It incorporates a Subsequently, full-text articles were assessed for
comprehensive analysis of both experimental and clinical eligibility according to the predefined inclusion and
studies to provide a holistic understanding of pulmonary exclusion criteria. One independent reviewer conducted
immune responses. By incorporating diverse study types, the screening process, and any discrepancies were
the review ensures a robust exploration of innovative resolved through discussion or consultation with a
perspectives in this field. second reviewer.

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2025) 28 doi: 10.36922/MI025100019