Which cytokines are blocked by dupilumab in severe asthma treatment?

Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody specifically designed to inhibit the activity of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13). Both of these cytokines play significant roles in the pathophysiology of asthma, particularly in driving allergic inflammation and airway hyperreactivity.

By blocking IL-4, dupilumab reduces the signaling pathways important for the differentiation of naïve T cells into Th2 cells, which produce more IL-4 and IL-13, thus controlling the overall inflammatory response in asthma. Additionally, IL-13 is crucial for mucus production and airway remodeling, contributing to the chronic nature of asthma. This dual inhibition is crucial for managing severe asthma, especially in patients with an eosinophilic phenotype or those with a strong allergic background.

Understanding that dupilumab primarily targets the IL-4 and IL-13 pathways helps explain its effectiveness in treating severe asthma characterized by these inflammatory markers. Other cytokines mentioned in different options, such as IL-5 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), do play roles in asthma but are not the primary targets affected by dupilumab.