International immunology
-
International immunology · Jul 2017
ReviewAntibody therapy for the management of severe asthma with eosinophilic inflammation.
One of the characteristic features of asthma is chronic airway inflammation typically with eosinophil infiltration. Most asthmatics can be treated successfully with conventional treatment appropriate for their severity, but in some severe cases, asthma cannot be well controlled even with thorough treatment and this condition is known as 'refractory asthma'. To overcome severe refractory asthma, a new therapeutic strategy with biologics has been developed based on the knowledge of molecular mechanisms of airway inflammation in asthma, induced by the condition of high Th2-type responses and activation of eosinophils as well as allergic reactions. ⋯ More recently, a humanized anti-IL-5 antibody (anti-IL-5; mepolizumab) was launched in June 2016 and has attracted great interest due to its potential effects. Several clinical studies are also ongoing to evaluate the biological preparations targeting IL-5 receptor α (IL-5Rα), IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα), which is shared by IL-4 and IL-13, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-33. The new strategy with biologics targeting eosinophilic airway inflammation might open a new array for us to overcome severe refractory asthma in the future.