title: Targeting the JAK-STAT pathway in the treatment of 'Th2-high' severe asthma.
abstract: Severe asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction, chronic inflammation and airway remodeling. Phenotyping and/or endotyping can lead to a more personalized treatment strategy, improving the efficacy of novel drugs. Atopic asthma is associated with high levels of Th2 cells, implicated in a number of inflammatory responses. Differentiation of these cells from naive T cells occurs primarily via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Targeting this pathway through inhibition of activating cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) and their receptors, the JAKs or the STATs, has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on asthma pathology. There are a number of novel drugs currently in development, which target various pathway components; these include both biologics and small molecules at various stages of development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UK.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vale
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases
keywords: IL-4; JAK-STAT pathway; STAT6; endotype; phenotype; therapy; ‘Th2-high’ severe asthma