Progress towards anticytokine therapy in asthma

IL-4 and IL -13 are cytokines made by Th2 cells that are overproduced in clinical asthma and are essential for allergic airway inflammation in mouse models. Corren et al. performed a clinical trial in asthma with a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the effects of these two cytokines by binding to IL-4Rα, a component of IL-4 and IL-13 receptors. The authors reported beneficial effects of the antibody on asthma symptoms and lung function in the most severely affected patients. Although improvements were not documented in all groups of patients, the results support the concept that Th2 cells contribute to pathogenesis in clinical asthma, at least in patients with more severe disease. The study supports further investigations on the blockade of IL-4 and IL -13 in asthma.