Th2 cytokines and asthma. The role of interleukin-5 in allergic eosinophilic disease.
Interleukin-5 is produced by a number of cell types, and is responsible for the maturation and release of eosinophils in the bone marrow. In humans, interleukin-5 is a very selective cytokine as a result of the restricted expression of the interleukin-5 receptor on eosinophils and basophils. Eosinophils are a prominent feature in the pulmonary inflammation that is associated with allergic airway diseases, suggesting that inhibition of interleukin-5 is a viable treatment. The present review addresses the data that relate interleukin-5 to pulmonary inflammation and function in animal models, and the use of neutralizing anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of asthma in humans.
Greenfeder
S
S
Allergy Department, Schering Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033-0539, USA. scott.greenfeder@spcorp.com
Umland
S P
SP
Cuss
F M
FM
Chapman
R W
RW
Egan
R W
RW
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015848:Interleukin-5