DNA immunomodulation of asthma.

This is an exciting time in the chronology of asthma and allergic diseases. Although the pharmacopeia for treatment of these diseases has advanced greatly, most of our current therapies are aimed at the symptoms, rather than the underlying mechanism. Immunotherapy remains the only therapeutic modality that addresses the underlying mechanism, albeit by effects are still not fully understood. The approaches summarized in this chapter, alone or in combination, may yet allow one to reverse the atopic state. Meanwhile, other innovative DNA-based approaches are being developed, including the use of allergen DNA with or without CpG. Because most of the Th2 cytokines are on chromosome 5, the completion of the human genome project may open whole new venues of research aimed at controlling these cytokines at the chromosomal level.