Receptors and cytokines involved in allergic TH2 cell responses

Cytokines produced by allergen-specific T-H2 cells play a central role in the induction and maintenance of allergic responses. Therefore antagonizing T-H2 differentiation and T-H2 effector functions will provide an effective way to intervene in allergic diseases. This article discusses that antagonizing the effects of IL-4 and IL-13 by IL-4R alpha antagonists inhibits human T-H2 development and IgE synthesis. In addition, it is shown that the activation of allergen-specific T-H2 cells with an agonistic anti-CDw150 mAb redirects the cytokine production profile of these T-H2 cells to a T-H0 phenotype.