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Coming of Age:Anti–Cytokine Therapies

Research & Development Centocor, Inc. 200 Great Valley Parkway, Malvern, PA 19355

Correspondence: XyS. E-mail songx{at}centocor.com; Fax 610-651-7363.

Cytokines are polypeptide regulators of intercellular communication within the immune system. The cells depicted above are macrophages and T-lymphocytes responding to cytokines (green rods). The Y-shaped structures represent antibody-derived therapeutics that recognize cytokines, either in circulation or bound to cell surface receptors, to block their action. Therapeutic strategies that interfere with cytokine function may be effective in immune disorders such as asthma, cancer, arthritis, and transplant rejection.

Although cytokines are critical in maintaining normal physiology, excessive production of these proteins can lead to pathological consequences. Inhibitors of cytokine production or action are therefore widely investigated as potential therapeutic agents in a variety of immune and inflammatory diseases. Indeed, the successful application of inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor- in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease heralds the great therapeutic potential of biopharmaceutical agents to counteract cytokine activities. Emerging opportunities for new therapeutics, as well as the challenges we face in their use and development, are described in this review.