Prospects for a DNA vaccine to prevent asthma

A variety of promising DNA-based immunomodulatory therapies are currently being investigated to prevent asthma. Therapy with Immunostimulatory sequences of DNA (ISS) containing a CpG motif attempts to inhibit the Th2 response to allergen. In mouse models of asthma ISS has been shown to inhibit eosinophilic inflammation, mucus expression, and airway hyperreactivity to methacholine when administered before or after induction of airway inflammation. Recent studies demonstrate that ISS also inhibits expression of the pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-beta1 and features of airway remodeling in mice chronically exposed to allergen. While these studies in mouse models are promising, further studies in humans are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of such an approach in humans with asthma.