title: Targeting the IL-33/IL-13 Axis for Respiratory Viral Infections.
abstract: Lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are highly prevalent worldwide. One of the major factors that limits the efficacy of current medication in these patients are viral infections, leading to exacerbations of symptoms and decreased quality of life. Current pharmacological strategies targeting virus-induced lung disease are problematic due to antiviral resistance and the requirement for strain-specific vaccination. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are urgently required. In this Opinion article, we provide state-of-the-art evidence from humans and preclinical animal models implicating the interleukin (IL)-33/IL-13 axis in virus-induced lung disease. Thus, targeting the IL-33/IL-13 axis may be a feasible way to overcome the limitations of current therapy used to treat virus-induced exacerbations of lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.affiliation: Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: ross.vlahos@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vlahos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D000067596:Interleukin-33 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018793:Interleukin-13; D000067596:Interleukin-33
keywords: acute exacerbation; interleukin-13; interleukin-33; viral infection