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IL‐12 as a therapeutic target for pharmacological modulation in immune‐mediated and inflammatory diseases: regulation of T helper 1/T helper 2 responses
Author(s) -
Haskó György,
Szabó Csaba
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0702689
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , cytokine , inflammation , receptor , interleukin , intracellular , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) is a pivotal cytokine in driving the immune system towards a T helper (Th)1 type response and preventing a Th2 type immune profile. Therefore, IL‐12 is indispensable in the defense against certain, mainly intracellular pathogens, but overproduction of this cytokine is crucially involved in the etiology of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Hence, IL‐12 is an ideal target for pharmacological intervention in the therapy of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The production of IL‐12 and a resultant Th1 type immune response can be suppressed with several pharmacological approaches including modulation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, glucocorticoids and nuclear factor‐κB inhibition. IL‐12 responsiveness may be inhibited using anti‐IL‐12 antibodies, soluble IL‐12 receptors or the IL‐12 p40 homodimer. Exploitation of these approaches may provide novel means for the experimental therapy of a variety of pathophysiological states.British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 127 , 1295–1304; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0702689