Respiratory diseases remain a major global health burden, with conditions like asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis driven by excessive inflammation mediated by cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Air pollution, tobacco smoke, and infectious agents trigger immune responses that damage airway tissues, while dysregulated cytokine production leads to chronic inflammation and airway remodeling. Diseases like asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, COVID-19-related ARDS, pneumonia, lung cancer, and tuberculosis all involve key inflammatory pathways, including MAPKs, NF-κB, and PI3K/Akt, making cytokines a critical therapeutic target.
Cytokine-targeted therapies, including anti-IL-5, anti-IL-4R, anti-IL-6, and anti-TSLP agents, have shown promise, especially for eosinophilic asthma. However, challenges such as cytokine redundancy, species differences between models and humans, and systemic side effects remain. Future directions include personalized treatment approaches based on biomarkers, more specific inhibitors, and targeted delivery to the lungs. Broader-spectrum anti-inflammatory strategies may also be necessary to effectively manage severe respiratory diseases.
Reference: Chavda VP, Bezbaruah R, Ahmed N, et al. Proinflammatory Cytokines in Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Their Management. Cells. 2025 Mar 9;14(6):400. doi: 10.3390/cells14060400. PMID: 40136649; PMCID: PMC11941495.
