title: Targeting T cells for asthma.
abstract: The type 2 T-helper (Th2) lymphocyte can be regarded as an important target cell for the treatment of allergic asthma as it plays a crucial role in the initiation, progression and persistence of disease. Several strategies to target Th2 cells can be envisioned. Drugs that prevent Th2-cells from migrating into the lung tissue, such as antibodies to the chemokine receptor CCR4 and inhibitors of the adhesion molecule VLA-4, are promising for the treatment of asthma. To inhibit Th2-cell activation, novel asthma drugs that act on Th2-selective transciption factors such as GATA3 are being developed. Although initial strategies aimed to block the action of Th2-derived cytokines, the generation of counter-regulatory Th1 lymphocytes and regulatory T cells is currently being explored.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Allergology and Pulmonary Diseases and Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen University, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Irene H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Heijink
authors.forename: Antoon J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Van Oosterhout
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000187:drug effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine