Therapeutics: Interleukin-5 (IL-5); granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; CSF2)

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting IL-5 or GM-CSF could help treat chronic colitis. In mice, levels of eosinophil precursors in the bone marrow and eosinophils in the colon were higher in a mouse model of Helicobacter hepaticus-driven colitis than in normal mice. In the model, antibodies against IL-5 or GM-CSF decreased eosinophil accumulation in the colon and colitis disease scores compared with control antibodies. Next steps could include testing anti-IL-5 antibodies in colitis patients...