Treatment with anti-cytokine monoclonal antibodies can potentiate the target cytokine rather than neutralize its activity.

Type 2 cytokines are critical mediators of allergic airway disease. Therefore, it has been theorized that developing monoclonal antibodies that neutralize these cytokines should ameliorate allergic rhinitis and asthma; however, the majority of these antibodies have demonstrated minimal clinical efficacy. It is well-established in mice that the formation of cytokine/ anti-cytokine complexes can potentiate, rather than neutralize, cytokine activity. Emerging evidence suggests that this phenomenon may exist in humans. We highlight this evidence and suggest approaches that circumvent the problem of cytokine/ anti-cytokine complex formation in treated subjects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.