Receptors and cytokines involved in allergic TH2 cell responses.

Cytokines produced by allergen-specific TH2 cells play a central role in the induction and maintenance of allergic responses. Therefore antagonizing TH2 differentiation and TH2 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-4Ralpha antagonists inhibits human TH2 development and IgE synthesis. In addition, it is shown that the activation of allergen-specific TH2 cells with an agonistic anti-CDw150 mAb redirects the cytokine production profile of these TH2 cells to a TH0 phenotype.