['Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 ligands are promising candidate drugs for the treatment of allergic asthma and rhinitis. Although their clinical application depends on the development of strategies for topical administration to the lung, this has not been explored in preclinical disease models.', 'To examine the therapeutic effectiveness, persistence of effect, and mode of action of intranasal TLR7 ligand administration in allergic airway disease.', 'Wild-type, IFN-alpha receptor (IFN-alphaR)(-/-), IFN-gamma(-/-), CD8(-/-), TLR7(-/-), and radiation-induced chimeric mice deficient in hematopoietic TLR7 expression were subjected to an established model of allergic airway disease. R-848, a specific TLR7 agonist in mice, was administered prophylactically or therapeutically and effects of treatment on helper T-cell type 2 (Th2) responses, eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness were assessed.', 'Intranasal R-848 administration induced a transient immune response characterized by type I interferon production and infiltration of innate immune cells into the lung. This conferred long-term suppression of allergic airway disease via two complementary molecular processes, one mediated by type I interferons and providing acute protection by directly inhibiting effector Th2 responses, and one mediated by immunoregulatory CD8(+) T cells and inducing long-lasting protection by suppressing Th2 responses in an IFN-gamma-dependent manner.'] Does toll-like receptor 7-triggered immune response in the lung mediate acute and long-lasting suppression of experimental asthma?