Die Rolle von Zytokinen bei Allergien und Asthma

Allergic reactions are characterized by inappropriate immune responses to antigens which are tolerated by most people.After the initial demonstration of different subpopulations of T-helper cells characterized by their cytokine expression profile it has been recognized that T_H2 cells and their cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13) are strongly associated with allergic responses.T_H2 cytokines have crucial functions in the development of allergic hyperreactivity and during initiation and progression of allergic responses.Therapeutic approaches for the selective inhibition of T_H2 cytokines are already in clinical trials.Further subpopulations of T cells (T_H1,T_H3,T_R1) mediate allergic responses through the secretion of cytokines which suppress T_H2 cells and their effector functions.Allergysuppressing cytokines like IFN-γ, IL-10 and TGF-β can be considered as further targets for manipulating the immune system in allergic diseases.These cytokines as well as agents modulating their specific expression are currently under intensive investigation.