Interleukin-4 as a therapeutic target

Yvonne Gärtner1, Lynn Bitar1, Frauke Zipp1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn(2)), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic cytokine mainly known for its role in type 2 immunity. Therapies antagonizing or blocking IL-4 activity have been developed to counteract diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. In contrast, other disorders experimentally benefit from IL-4-related effects and IL-4 recently demonstrated beneficial activity in experimental stroke, spinal cord injury and the animal model of multiple sclerosis. To exploit IL-4-related activity for therapeutic concepts, current experimental efforts include modifying the pathway without inducing type 2 immune response and targeting of the cytokine to specific tissues. Here, we review different activities of IL-4 as well as therapeutic strategies.

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