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IL-13 and its genetic variants: effect on current asthma treatments.
- Source :
-
Discovery medicine [Discov Med] 2011 Dec; Vol. 12 (67), pp. 513-23. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Airway hyperresponsiveness is an essential part of the definition of asthma associated temporally with exposure to allergens, certain respiratory viruses, pollutants such as ozone, and certain organic chemicals. Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is implicated as a central regulator in immunoglobulin E (IgE) synthesis, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyperresponsiveness, and fibrosis. The importance of IL-13 in allergic disorders in humans is supported by consistent associations between tissue IL-13 levels and genetic variants in the IL-13 gene and asthma and related traits. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-13 are associated with allergic phenotypes in several ethnically diverse populations. Glucocorticoids are anti-inflammatory medications often used as maintenance therapy in acute and chronic asthma; however, some patients with severe asthma are steroid resistant. IL-13 remains elevated in glucocorticoid insensitive asthma but not in glucocorticoid sensitive asthma. Thus targeting IL-13 and its associated receptors may be a therapeutic approach to the treatment of asthma and/or allergy. This review focuses on the role of IL-13 on airway hyperresponsiveness and corticosteroids resistant asthma both preclinically and clinically.<br /> (© Discovery Medicine)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1944-7930
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 67
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Discovery medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22204768