Th2 cells as targets for therapeutic intervention in allergic bronchial asthma.
Th2 cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic bronchial asthma, since each of their characteristic cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13 contributes to hallmarks of this disease, including airway eosinophilia, increased mucus production, production of allergen-specific IgE and development of airway hyper-responsiveness. Therefore, these cells are predisposed as target cells for therapeutic intervention. Experimental approaches targeted Th2-type effector cytokines, Th2-cell recruitment and Th2-cell development. Another strategy uses the immunomodulatory potential of tolerance-inducing cytokines such as IL-10 or of cytokines such as IL-12, IL-18 and IFN-gamma that are able to induce a counterbalancing Th1 immune response.
Wegmann
Michael
M
Bereich Experimentelle Pneumologie, Forschungszentrum Borstel, Leibniz-Zentrum für Medizin und Biowissenschaften, Parkallee 1, D-23845 Borstel, Germany. mwegmann@fz-borstel.de
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors