Role of IL-5 in asthma and airway remodelling

Clin Exp Allergy. 2024 Aug;54(8):538-549. doi: 10.1111/cea.14489. Epub 2024 Jun 27.

Abstract

Asthma is a common and burdensome chronic inflammatory airway disease that affects both children and adults. One of the main concerns with asthma is the manifestation of irreversible tissue remodelling of the airways due to the chronic inflammatory environment that eventually disrupts the whole structure of the airways. Most people with troublesome asthma are treated with inhaled corticosteroids. However, the development of steroid resistance is a commonly encountered issue, necessitating other treatment options for these patients. Biological therapies are a promising therapeutic approach for people with steroid-resistant asthma. Interleukin 5 is recently gaining a lot of attention as a biological target relevant to the tissue remodelling process. Since IL-5-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mepolizumab, reslizumab and benralizumab) are currently available for clinical use, this review aims to revisit the role of IL-5 in asthma pathogenesis at large and airway remodelling in particular, in addition to exploring its role as a target for biological treatments.

Keywords: Interleukin‐5 (IL‐5); airway remodelling; anti‐IL5; asthma; fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Remodeling* / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Asthma* / immunology
  • Asthma* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-5* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-5* / immunology
  • Interleukin-5* / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-5
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • IL5 protein, human