TY - JOUR T1 - New anti-asthma therapies: suppression of the effect of interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐5 JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 499 LP - 506 DO - 10.1183/09031936.01.17304990 VL - 17 IS - 3 AU - J.C. Kips AU - K.G. Tournoy AU - R.A. Pauwels Y1 - 2001/03/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/3/499.abstract N2 - Asthma is currently defined as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The central role of allergen-specific Th2 cells in the regulation of this mucosal airway inflammation has been highlighted. Hence, there is large interest in the therapeutic potential of an anti-Th2 cell approach. One of the strategies which has been developed, is to inhibit the effect of interleukin (IL)‐4 or IL‐5, two main Th2 cell derived cytokines.Interleukin‐4 is pivotal in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders through its wide range of effects. An important observation, especially during secondary antigen exposure, is the possible redundancy with IL‐13. Both cytokines share common elements in their receptor and intracellular signalling pathway. As a result, compounds can be developed that selectively inhibit the effect of either IL‐4 or IL‐13, or alternatively, by interfering with the common pathway, inhibit the effect of both cytokines.Eosinophils are generally seen as a particularly harmful element in the allergic inflammation. The importance of IL‐5 on eosinophil biology has clearly been established. Conversely, in man, the biological effects of IL‐5 are largely limited to eosinophil function. Therefore, IL‐5 antagonists offer the unique opportunity of selectively neutralizing the effect of eosinophils.Several strategies have now been developed that successfully inhibit the biological effect of interleukin‐4 or interleukin‐5. Some of these compounds have proven to be biologically active in man. The challenge now is to establish their therapeutic role in asthma. ER -