25K
views
31
authors
7
articles
Editors
3
Impact
Loading...
Review
02 February 2022
Role of Th17 Cytokines in Airway Remodeling in Asthma and Therapy Perspectives
Victor Margelidon-Cozzolino
2 more and 
Patricia de Nadai

Airway remodeling is a frequent pathological feature of severe asthma leading to permanent airway obstruction in up to 50% of cases and to respiratory disability. Although structural changes related to airway remodeling are well-characterized, immunological processes triggering and maintaining this phenomenon are still poorly understood. As a consequence, no biotherapy targeting cytokines are currently efficient to treat airway remodeling and only bronchial thermoplasty may have an effect on bronchial nerves and smooth muscles with uncertain clinical relevance. Th17 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, play a role in neutrophilic inflammation in severe asthma and may be involved in airway remodeling. Indeed, IL-17 is increased in sputum from severe asthmatic patients, induces the expression of “profibrotic” cytokines by epithelial, endothelial cells and fibroblasts, and provokes human airway smooth muscle cell migration in in vitro studies. IL-22 is also increased in asthmatic samples, promotes myofibroblast differentiation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells in vitro. Accordingly, we also found high levels of IL-17 and IL-22 in a mouse model of dog-allergen induced asthma characterized by a strong airway remodeling. Clinical trials found no effect of therapy targeting IL-17 in an unselected population of asthmatic patients but showed a potential benefit in a sub-population of patients exhibiting a high level of airway reversibility, suggesting a potential role on airway remodeling. Anti-IL-22 therapies have not been evaluated in asthma yet but were demonstrated efficient in severe atopic dermatitis including an effect on skin remodeling. In this review, we will address the role of Th17 cytokines in airway remodeling through data from in vitro, in vivo and translational studies, and examine the potential place of Th17-targeting therapies in the treatment of asthma with airway remodeling.

6,705 views
25 citations
Recommended Research Topics
Frontiers Logo

Frontiers in Allergy

The Mechanisms of Cellular Stress in Allergic Asthma and Their Potential Application in Clinical Treatment
Edited by Yun - Zhang, Miranda Curtiss, Xing Wang, Deepak A Deshpande
Deadline
30 Jun 2023
Submit
Frontiers Logo

Frontiers in Allergy

Microbiota and Asthma
Edited by Kurtis Francis Budden, Asha Rani, Ramcés Falfán-Valencia
18.9K
views
41
authors
5
articles
Frontiers Logo

Frontiers in Allergy

Exploring the Role of Adaptive Immunity in Chronic Airway Respiratory Diseases
Edited by EVANGELIA FOUKA, Apostolos Bossios, Konstantinos Samitas, Paschalis Steiropoulos
Deadline
28 Feb 2024
Submit
Frontiers Logo

Frontiers in Allergy

Vaping in Patients with Asthma: Burden and Effects on Inflammation and Airway Physiology
Edited by Lisa Cameron, Harissios Vliagoftis, Nami Shrestha
Deadline
15 Feb 2024
Submit
Frontiers Logo

Frontiers in Allergy

The Link Between Asthma and Obesity
Edited by Akira Yamasaki, Saptarshi Roy
Deadline
07 Jan 2024
Submit