Blockade of IL‐4Rα inhibits group 2 innate lymphoid cell responses in asthma patients

Abstract

Asthma is a complicated chronic airway inflammatory disorder. In addition to standard steroid treatment, biologic therapies targeting specific cytokines have emerged to reduce exacerbation and improve lung function. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-5, a critical growth factor for eosinophils, reduced asthma exacerbation in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.1 Blockade of IL4Rα, the receptor to IL-4 and IL-13, also lowered exacerbation rates and improved lung function in moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma.2 While these biologic therapies are now used as add-on maintenance treatment of moderate to severe asthma, the effects of these biologic therapies on human immune responses are yet to be better understood.