title: Dupilumab: a novel treatment for asthma.
abstract: Simultaneously with the steady progress towards a better knowledge of the pathobiology of asthma, the potential usefulness of anticytokine therapies is emerging as one of the key concepts in the newly developing treatments of this widespread airway disease. In particular, given the key role played by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 in the pathophysiology of the most typical aspects of asthma, such as chronic airway inflammation, tissue remodeling, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, these pleiotropic cytokines are now considered as suitable therapeutic targets. Among the recently developed antiasthma biologic drugs, the monoclonal antibody dupilumab is very promising because of its ability to inhibit the biological effects of both IL-4 and IL-13. Indeed, dupilumab prevents IL-4/13 interactions with the α-subunit of the IL-4 receptor complex. A recent trial showed that in patients with difficult-to-control asthma, dupilumab can markedly decrease asthma exacerbations and improve respiratory symptoms and lung function; these effects were paralleled by significant reductions in T-helper 2-associated inflammatory biomarkers. However, further larger and longer trials are required to extend and validate these preliminary results, and also to carefully study the safety and tolerability profile of dupilumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fabozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelaia
keywords: Th2-high asthma; dupilumab; interleukin-13; interleukin-4