[Role of interleukin-9 in asthma and allergic reactions].
Interleukin 9 (IL-9) is a cytokine produced by activated T lymphocytes and that activates in vitro mast cells as well as T and B lymphocytes. In vivo, transgenic mice overexpressing the gene encoding IL-9 show several of the hallmarks of human allergic asthma: increased IgE concentration, bronchial mastocytosis, eosinophilia, increased mucus production, as well as bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Whereas some of these features reflect direct IL-9 activities on target cells such as mast cells and B lymphocytes, increased mucus production and eosinophilia rather result from IL-13 and IL-5 production induced by IL-9 in T lymphocytes and mast cells. Preclinical studies in mice have shown that anti-IL-9 blocking antibodies interfere with the development of asthma-like reactions. In the human species, asthmatic patients produce large amounts of this cytokine and IL-9 production correlates nicely with species biological parameters of the disease. Phase 2 clinical trials are in progress to test the efficacy of anti-IL-9 antibodies in humans.
Renauld
J-C
JC
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Brussels Branch, de Duve Institute, UCL.
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016209:Interleukin-8; D007073:Immunoglobulin E