title: IL-13 and the IL-13 receptor as therapeutic targets for asthma and allergic disease.
abstract: It is widely accepted that T-helper 2 cell (Th2) cytokines play an important role in the maintenance of asthma and allergy. Emerging evidence has highlighted the role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In particular, IL-13 is involved in the regulation of IgE synthesis, mucus hypersecretion, subepithelial fibrosis and eosinophil infiltration, and has been associated with the regulation of certain chemokine receptors, notably CCR5. Thus, targeting IL-13 and its associated receptors may be a therapeutic approach to the treatment of asthma and/or allergy. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are researching various strategies, based on this approach, aimed at binding IL-13, increasing the level of the IL-13 decoy receptor, IL-13Ralpha2, or blocking the effect of the chemokine receptor CCR5. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of anti-IL-13 agents and their role in the treatment of asthma and allergy.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 601 North 30th Street, Suite 3M100, Omaha, NE 68131, USA.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Vesselin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dimov
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Townley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D053663:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053663:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13