Requirement for IL-13 independently of IL-4 in experimental asthma

Science. 1998 Dec 18;282(5397):2261-3. doi: 10.1126/science.282.5397.2261.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of asthma reflects, in part, the activity of T cell cytokines. Murine models support participation of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and the IL-4 receptor in asthma. Selective neutralization of IL-13, a cytokine related to IL-4 that also binds to the alpha chain of the IL-4 receptor, ameliorated the asthma phenotype, including airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil recruitment, and mucus overproduction. Administration of either IL-13 or IL-4 conferred an asthma-like phenotype to nonimmunized T cell-deficient mice by an IL-4 receptor alpha chain-dependent pathway. This pathway may underlie the genetic associations of asthma with both the human 5q31 locus and the IL-4 receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5
  • Goblet Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Interleukin-13 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-13 / physiology*
  • Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin / physiology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • IL13RA1 protein, human
  • Il13ra1 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Interleukin-4
  • Ovalbumin