Therapies Using Type-1 Cytokines

Models of autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice (NOD) mice, insulin-dependent diabetes, and experimental allergic encephalyomyelitis (EAE) were also used to evaluate naked pDNA therapy. In the latter models, a predominant Thl cytokine response is thought to play a role in disease symptoms and etiology. Treatment of these mouse models with a TH2 type cytokine, such as IL-10 or IL-4, has been found to shift the immune response and lessen the severity of disease. Therefore, the efficacy of pDNA delivery of a Th2 cytokine was explored in these specific models. 

IL-13 may have a role as an inhibitor of monocyte inflammatory cytokines (for example, induced by LPS) and thus may be useful as a therapeutic agent in septic shock. The peripheral blood of allergic individuals contains long-lived allergen-specific B cells that have already switched to IgE production and that are not sensitive to IL-4 and IL-13 treatment. This information may have implications for attempts to use cytokines or cytokine antagonists in therapy of type I allergy, ... 

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an example of a metabolic disease under active consideration for inducible gene therapy strategies. In this disorder, inflammatory cytokines have been shown to activate apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells. Experimental studies indicate that expression of insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can prevent the cytokine-mediated destruction of beta cells of the pancreas (Giannoukakis et al., 2001). Regulated expression of IGF-1 in human pancreatic islets, to preserve beta cell function, may be a useful approach in the treatment of certain types of diabetes (Demeterco and Levine, 2001). 

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