title: CD137-mediated immunotherapy for allergic asthma.
abstract: The prevalence of asthma continues to increase. Asthma is caused by a Th2 cell-driven immune response. Its optimal treatment remains a challenge, and a sufficient immunotherapeutic approach to treating asthma has yet to be found. Using a murine asthma model, we show that a single injection of an anti-CD137 (4-1BB) mAb prevents the development of airway hyperreactivity, eosinophilic airway inflammation, excessive mucus production, and elevated IgE during the observation period of 7 weeks. Most importantly, even established disease is completely reversed by anti-CD137 mAb administration. The protection is associated with markedly reduced Th2 cytokine production and increased secretion of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma. While B lymphocytes are partly depleted, the number of CD8+ T cells is increased. Blockade of IFN-gamma and depletion of CD8+ T cells during treatment with anti-CD137 mAb reduces in part but does not abrogate the protective effect of CD137 mAb. In contrast, CD137 mAb-mediated CD4+ T cell anergy is critical for the observed effects, since transfer of CD4+ T cells from CD137 mAb-treated mice conveyed protection. These data demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, the capacity of anti-CD137 mAb to ameliorate allergic asthma, and they indicate CD137 as a possible target for therapeutic intervention in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Neonatology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Polte
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foell
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Heinz-Gerd
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Hoymann
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burdach
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mittler
authors.forename: Gesine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505715:Tnfrsf9 protein, mouse; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen