Interleukin 5 plays a critical role in the host immune response to helminthic infections and has been implicated in the pathology of certain allergic diseases, asthma, and vasculitis.
In these diseases, it is associated with significant increase in levels of eosinophils, a condition referred to as hypereosinophilia.
Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a nonspecific marker associated with a Th2 (helper T cells, subset 2)-immune response and is not diagnostic for any specific disease or disease process. Elevated concentrations of IL-5 must be interpreted within the clinical context of the patient.
Normal concentrations of IL-5 do not exclude the possibility of a Th2-immune response or hypereosinophilia.
IL-5 has limited stability. Following centrifugation, plasma must be either immediately frozen or refrigerated. Samples can only be stored at refrigerated temperatures for 24 hours, after which time samples must be frozen. Storage of plasma for any length of time at room temperature is not acceptable.
References:
- Nakayama T, Hirahara K, Onodera A, et al: Th2 cells in health and disease. Annu Rev Immunol. 2017 Apr 26;35:53-84
- Yanagibashi T, Satoh M, Nagai Y, et al. Allergic diseases: From bench to clinic - Contribution of the discovery of interleukin-5. Cytokine. 2017 Oct;98:59-70.
- Kandikattu HK, Venkateshaiah SU, Mishra A: Synergy of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-18 in eosinophil mediated pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2019;47:83-98.
- Harish A, Schwartz SA: Targeted anti-IL-5 therapies and future therapeutics for hypereosinophilic syndrome and rare eosinophilic conditions. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2020;59:231-247.
- Nishi R, Ohyama K, Fukami Y et al: Association between IL-5 levels and the clinicopathologic features of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Neurology. 2021;96:226-229.
- Melo JT Jr, Tunstall T, Pizzichini R, et al: IL-5 levels in nasosorption and sputosorption correlate with sputum eosinophilia in allergic asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:240-243.
- Guntur VP, Manka LA, Denson JL, et al: Benralizumab as a steroid-sparing treatment option in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;1186-1193.
- Hillas G, Fouka E, Papaioannou A: Antibodies targeting the interleukin-5 signaling pathway used as add-on therapy for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma: a review of the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of the subcutaneously administered agents, mepolizumab and benralizumab. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2020;14(4):353-365.
Interleukin 5, Serum
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