Uncloaking IL-7
Despite the fact that the cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7) is known to be involved in autoimmune diseases, no companies are pursuing IL-7 antagonists, and only one company-Cytheris S.A.-is using IL-7 itself as a therapeutic to boost patients' immune systems. One reason is that IL-7's specific role in autoimmune disease is unknown. In a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,Canadian researchers have now shown that IL-7 initiates disease in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.1
The results also suggest that IL-7 could be involved in the pathology of other autoimmune diseases. However, at least one company thinks that such diseases would be better addressed by hitting other autoimmune targets due to potential immunosuppression issues...