[Are eosinophils crucial for the development of bronchial asthma?].
Genetically-engineered agents have been developed for the treatment of immunological diseases. Anti-IL-5 neutralizing antibody was applied for chronic asthma. A single intravenous infusion of anti-Il-5 did decrease blood and sputum eosinophils, but did not affect LAR after allergen provocation or BHA. The result suggests several possibilities including that 1) local eosinophils were not diminished enough by this dosage of the treatment, or 2) asthma symptoms are not related to eosinophils at least once the disease has started. Prolonged administration of the antibody or IL-5 inhibitors that can easily penetrate into the mucosal tissue will answer the question.
Mori
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A
Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Sagamihara Hospital.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D015848:Interleukin-5