# Beyond inhaled medications: precision medicine and biologic therapies targeting the IL-33/TSLP/type 2 axis in COPD

**Authors:** Guo-qiang Song, Bangsheng Chen, Tian-li He, Guo-qiang Hu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1772031 · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026-02-05

## TL;DR

This paper reviews new biologic therapies targeting specific inflammatory pathways in COPD, offering alternatives to traditional inhaled treatments.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of emerging biologics targeting the IL-33/TSLP/type 2 axis in COPD.

## Key findings

- Biologics like tezepelumab show promise in modulating key inflammatory mediators in COPD.
- Clinical trials indicate potential for precision medicine approaches beyond inhaled therapies.
- The IL-33/TSLP/type 2 axis plays a critical role in COPD pathophysiology.

## Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic airway inflammation, traditionally managed with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids. However, a significant subset of patients exhibits suboptimal response to these inhaled therapies, and disease progression remains challenging to control effectively. Recent advances in understanding the inflammatory pathways underlying COPD have led to the development of biologic agents targeting critical cytokines and their receptors, including IL-4 receptor (IL-4R), IL-5, IL-5 receptor (IL-5R), IL-33, ST2, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Emerging drugs such as JKN2401, TQC2731, and tezepelumab demonstrate promising therapeutic potential by modulating these specific inflammatory mediators. This review comprehensively summarizes the pathophysiological roles of these cytokines in COPD, the current progress in biologic drug development targeting these molecules, and the outcomes of recent clinical trials. By elucidating these novel therapeutic avenues, the article aims to provide a theoretical foundation and clinical guidance for precision medicine approaches in COPD management beyond conventional inhaled treatments.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** IL4R (interleukin 4 receptor), IL5 (interleukin 5), IL5RA (interleukin 5 receptor subunit alpha), IL33 (interleukin 33), ST2 (suppression of tumorigenicity 2), TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin)
- **Diseases:** COPD (MONDO:0005002), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MONDO:0005002)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IL7R (interleukin 7 receptor) [NCBI Gene 3575] {aka CD127, CDW127, IL-7R-alpha, IL-7Ralpha, IL7RA, IL7Ralpha}, RETNLB (resistin like beta) [NCBI Gene 84666] {aka FIZZ1, FIZZ2, HXCP2, RELM-beta, RELMb, RELMbeta}, TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin) [NCBI Gene 85480], IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 3565] {aka BCGF-1, BCGF1, BSF-1, BSF1, IL-4}, SMAD3 (SMAD family member 3) [NCBI Gene 4088] {aka HSPC193, HsT17436, JV15-2, LDS1C, LDS3, MADH3}, CDH1 (cadherin 1) [NCBI Gene 999] {aka Arc-1, BCDS1, CD324, CDHE, ECAD, LCAM}, IL9 (interleukin 9) [NCBI Gene 3578] {aka HP40, IL-9, P40}, PIK3CD (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit delta) [NCBI Gene 5293] {aka APDS, IMD14, IMD14A, IMD14B, P110DELTA, PI3K}, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, IL5 (interleukin 5) [NCBI Gene 3567] {aka EDF, IL-5, TRF}, IL13 (interleukin 13) [NCBI Gene 3596] {aka IL-13, P600}, MUC5AC (mucin 5AC, oligomeric mucus/gel-forming) [NCBI Gene 4586] {aka MUC5, TBM, leB, mucin}, CRLF2 (cytokine receptor like factor 2) [NCBI Gene 64109] {aka CRL2, CRLF2Y, TSLPR}, HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1) [NCBI Gene 3146] {aka HMG-1, HMG1, HMG3, SBP-1}, TGFB1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) [NCBI Gene 7040] {aka CAEND1, CED, DPD1, IBDIMDE, LAP, TGF-beta1}, IL4R (interleukin 4 receptor) [NCBI Gene 3566] {aka CD124, IL-4RA, IL4RA}, TNFRSF25 (TNF receptor superfamily member 25) [NCBI Gene 8718] {aka APO-3, DDR3, DR3, LARD, TNFRSF12, TR3}, IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605] {aka CTLA-8, CTLA8, IL-17, IL-17A, IL17, ILA17}, TNFSF15 (TNF superfamily member 15) [NCBI Gene 9966] {aka TL1, TL1A, TNLG1B, VEGI, VEGI192A}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, IL23A (interleukin 23 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 51561] {aka IL-23, IL-23A, IL23P19, P19, SGRF}, NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 114548] {aka AGTAVPRL, AII, AVP, C1orf7, CIAS1, CLR1.1}, PDE4A (phosphodiesterase 4A) [NCBI Gene 5141] {aka DPDE2, PDE4, PDE46}, SMPD3 (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3) [NCBI Gene 55512] {aka NSMASE2}, mucin [NCBI Gene 100508689], SDC1 (syndecan 1) [NCBI Gene 6382] {aka CD138, SDC, SYND1, syndecan}, IL33 (interleukin 33) [NCBI Gene 90865] {aka C9orf26, DVS27, IL1F11, NF-HEV, NFEHEV}, CCL26 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 26) [NCBI Gene 10344] {aka IMAC, MIP-4a, MIP-4alpha, SCYA26, TSC-1}, IL25 (interleukin 25) [NCBI Gene 64806] {aka IL17E}, CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576] {aka GCP-1, GCP1, IL8, LECT, LUCT, LYNAP}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, AGER (advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor) [NCBI Gene 177] {aka RAGE, SCARJ1, sRAGE}, IL1RL1 (interleukin 1 receptor like 1) [NCBI Gene 9173] {aka DER4, FIT-1, IL33R, ST2, ST2L, ST2V}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}, IL5RA (interleukin 5 receptor subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 3568] {aka CD125, CDw125, HSIL5R3, IL5R}, ST2 (suppression of tumorigenicity 2) [NCBI Gene 6761], TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IGHE (immunoglobulin heavy constant epsilon) [NCBI Gene 3497] {aka IgE}
- **Diseases:** smooth muscle hyperplasia (MESH:D018235), atopic dermatitis (MESH:D003876), necrosis (MESH:D009336), immune dysregulation (OMIM:614878), Trypanosoma cruzi infection (MESH:D014355), chronic (MESH:D002908), pulmonary hypertension (MESH:D006976), infectious diseases (MESH:D003141), emphysematous (MESH:D041882), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), coronary artery disease (MESH:D003324), allergic airway diseases (MESH:D004342), cardiac (MESH:D006331), hypertrophy (MESH:D006984), cardiovascular diseases (MESH:D002318), airway infections (MESH:D007239), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), long-term disease (MESH:D000088562), bronchiectasis (MESH:D001987), viral infections (MESH:D014777), eosinophil depletion (MESH:D017681), EGPA (MESH:D014890), neutrophilic (MESH:C564275), airway obstruction (MESH:D000402), ventilation (MESH:D053717), autoimmune (MESH:D001327), lung allograft dysfunction (MESH:D000092122), obese (MESH:D009765), respiratory condition (MESH:D012131), type 2(T2) (eosinophilic) inflammation (MESH:C535434), COPD inflammation (MESH:D011014), AECOPD (MESH:D029424), lung damage (MESH:D008171), diabetes (MESH:D003920), chronic bronchitis (MESH:D029481), cancer (MESH:D009369), asthma (MESH:D001249), emphysema (MESH:D004646), lung function decline (MESH:D055370), eosinophilia (MESH:D004802), liver fibrosis (MESH:D008103), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), glioma (MESH:D005910), eosinophilic esophagitis (MESH:D057765), neurodegenerative disorders (MESH:D019636), diseases (MESH:D004194), airway inflammation (MESH:D007249), respiratory diseases (MESH:D012140), corticosteroid (MESH:C565152)
- **Chemicals:** Dupilumab (MESH:C582203), ROS (MESH:D017382), flavonoids (MESH:D005419), Itepekimab (MESH:C000720033), Mepolizumab (MESH:C434107), lignan (MESH:D017705), Ecleralimab (-), ozone (MESH:D010126), alkaloids (MESH:D000470), cAMP (MESH:D000242), Nitric Oxide (MESH:D009569), Roflumilast (MESH:C424423), terpenoids (MESH:D013729), Astegolimab (MESH:C000711667), Benralizumab (MESH:C571386), Tezepelumab (MESH:C000622721), EGCG (MESH:C045651), Arctigenin (MESH:C071942)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Edwardsiella tarda (species) [taxon 636], Arctium lappa (great burdock, species) [taxon 4217], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast, species) [taxon 4932]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916659/full.md

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916659/full.md

## References

131 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916659/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916659