Mepolizumab in the management of severe eosinophilic asthma in adults: Current evidence and practical experience

Gilda Varricchi, Diego Bagnasco, Matteo Ferrando, Francesca Puggioni, Giovanni Passalacqua, Giorgio W. Canonica

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Eosinophils represent approximately 1% of peripheral blood leukocytes in normal donors and their maturation and differentiation in the bone marrow are mainly regulated by interleukin (IL)-5 [Broughton et al. 2015]. IL-5, a cytokine that belongs to the β common-chain family, together with IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), stimulates also the activation and survival of eosinophils and, to some extent, of basophils. IL-5 binds to a heterodimer receptor composed of the specific subunit IL-5Rα and a common subunit βc shared with IL-3 and GM-CSF. Human eosinophils express approximately a three-fold higher level of IL-5Rα compared with basophils. Major sources of IL-5 are T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, mast cells, CD34+ progenitor cells, invariant natural killer (NK) T-cells, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), and eosinophils themselves. ILC2s control not only eosinophil number but also their circadian cycling through the production of IL-5.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)40-45
Number of pages6
JournalTherapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2017

Keywords

  • asthma
  • eosinophilia
  • exacerbations
  • IL-5
  • mepolizumab
  • personalized medicine
  • severe asthma
  • targeted therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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