scispace - formally typeset
Open AccessJournal Article

Interleukin-13: Central mediator of allergic asthma

TLDR
In this article, the type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma.
Abstract
The worldwide incidence, morbidity, and mortality of allergic asthma are increasing. The pathophysiological features of allergic asthma are thought to result from the aberrant expansion of CD4 + T cells producing the type 2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5, although a necessary role for these cytokines in allergic asthma has not been demonstrable. The type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma. IL-13 induces the pathophysiological features of asthma in a manner that is independent of immunoglobulin E and eosinophils. Thus, IL-13 is critical to allergen-induced asthma but operates through mechanisms other than those that are classically implicated in allergic responses.

read more

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

An IL-13 promoter polymorphism associated with increased risk of allergic asthma.

TL;DR: The identification of a novel IL-13 promoter polymorphism (C to T exchange) at position −1055 is described, and it is postulate that the presence of this polymorphism predisposes to the development of allergic asthma.
Journal ArticleDOI

Pathophysiology of allergic inflammation

TL;DR: Better understanding of the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation has identified new therapeutic targets but developing effective novel therapies has been challenging, and Corticosteroids are highly effective with a broad spectrum of anti‐inflammatory effects.
Journal Article

Pro- versus anti-inflammatory cytokines: myth or reality.

TL;DR: This review points out that this classification is far too simplistic and provides numerous examples illustrating that a given cytokine may behave as a pro- as well as an anti-inflammatory cytokine.
Journal ArticleDOI

Biologic Rhythms in the Immune System

TL;DR: The response of the immune system to introduction of an antigen and to challenge of the sensitized organism varies in extent in the circadian frequency range and also in lower frequencies, for example, of about a week (circaseptan) or seasonally (circannual).
Journal ArticleDOI

IL-13 induces eosinophil recruitment into the lung by an IL-5- and eotaxin-dependent mechanism.

TL;DR: Selective components of the IL-13-induced asthma phenotype--airway eosinophilia but not mucus secretion--are differentially regulated by IL-5 and eotaxin.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

Functional diversity of helper T lymphocytes.

TL;DR: The existence of subsets of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes that differ in their cytokine secretion patterns and effector functions provides a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of normal and pathological immune responses.
Journal ArticleDOI

Predominant TH2-like bronchoalveolar T-lymphocyte population in atopic asthma

TL;DR: Atopic asthma is associated with activation in the bronchi of the interleukin-3, 4, and 5 and GM-CSF gene cluster, a pattern compatible with predominant activation of the TH2-like T-cell population.
Journal ArticleDOI

Eosinophilic inflammation in asthma.

TL;DR: Eosinophilic inflammation of the airways is correlated with the severity of asthma and these cells are likely to play a part in the epithelial damage seen in this disease.
Journal ArticleDOI

Requirement for IL-13 Independently of IL-4 in Experimental Asthma

TL;DR: This article showed that IL-4 receptor α chain-dependent pathway may underlie the genetic associations of asthma with both the human 5q31 locus and the IL4 receptor and showed that selective neutralization of IL-13, a cytokine related to interleukin-4 that also binds to the α chain of the IL 4 receptor, ameliorated asthma phenotype.
Journal ArticleDOI

Cellular events in the bronchi in mild asthma and after bronchial provocation.

TL;DR: It is concluded that allergic asthma is accompanied by extensive inflammatory changes in the airways, even in mild clinical and subclinical disease.
Related Papers (5)