Cytokine-targeted therapeutic approaches for inflammatory bowel disease

Although the causes of inflammatory bowel disease currently are not fully u nderstood, increasing evidence implicates cytokines as key factors in the d evelopment of this disorder. The rationale for cytokine-targeted therapy fo r inflammatory bowel disease has been refined significantly and clinical st udies have been initiated. Efficacy of therapy with antitumor necrosis fact or-alpha antibody has already been established and clinical trials of recom binant interleukin-10 and interleukin-11 are in progress. Recent investigat ions have also focused on intracellular signaling pathways and transcriptio n factors that regulate production and activation of cytokines. Further elu cidation of the immune response and the role of cytokines in inflammatory b owel disease may lead to identification of additional possible targets for therapeutic intervention that could improve management of the disease. (C) 2000 Prous Science. All rights reserved.