Daclizumab: a potential asthma therapy?

Abstract

Airways inflammation in asthma is triggered and maintained by CD4+ (Th2) cells which are activated by IL-2 and stimulate the eosinophilic inflammation, IgE secretion and mucus hyperproduction. Current anti-inflammatory therapies include inhaled corticosteroids, and leukotriene modifiers but they are not universally effective. IL-2 pathway inhibition might represent a potent anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma given the cytokine early role in the asthma complex inflammatory cascade and daclizumab which is a IL-2R blocker currently used as an immunsupressor in organ transplantation might be a potential asthma therapy. This is review on the pathogenic role of IL-2, on the therapeutic potential of daclizumab and on its related patents.