SIMPLE UNDERSTANDING AND OPTIMISTIC STRATEGY FOR COPING WITH ATOPIC DISEASES - IL-5 CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS ON EOSINOPHILIC INFLAMMATION

In this article, accumulated investigations were reviewed to present a n 'IL-5 central hypothesis' for eosinophilic inflammation. In this sim ple working hypothesis, mechanisms of clinical amelioration of atopic diseases manifested by glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants such as c yclosporin A or FK506 were easily understood to stem from the inhibiti on of IL-5 production and gene transcription. Screening of macrolide m olecules resulted in the detection of nonactin (code name: OM-01), whi ch inhibits production and gene transcription of IL-5 but not of IL-2 or IL-4. It was suggested that this kind of approach may open a new er a of 'specific gene transcription control' for the management of aller gic and other human disorders.