Cytokine and anti-cytokine therapy for asthma.
Cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Asthma resolution may depend on the correction of dysregulated cytokine expression, which is a characteristic feature of this chronic inflammatory disease. It is, therefore, not surprising that attempts have been made to either block cytokines present at elevated levels or to substitute cytokines that are insufficiently expressed in asthma. In this article, the results of these studies are discussed, and the obtained insights regarding asthma pathogenesis and new treatment options are summarized.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. hus@pki.unibe.ch
Hans-Uwe
HU
Simon
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007372:Interferons / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D007372:Interferons