Intrinsic defect in T cell production of interleukin (IL)-13 in the absence of both IL-5 and eotaxin precludes the development of eosinophilia and airways hyperreactivity …

J Mattes, M Yang, S Mahalingam, J Kuehr… - The Journal of …, 2002 - rupress.org
J Mattes, M Yang, S Mahalingam, J Kuehr, DC Webb, L Simson, SP Hogan, A Koskinen…
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2002rupress.org
Interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 are thought to play key roles in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Although both cytokines use eotaxin to regulate eosinophilia, IL-13 is thought to operate a
separate pathway to IL-5 to induce airways hyperreactivity (AHR) in the allergic lung.
However, identification of the key pathway (s) used by IL-5 and IL-13 in the disease process
is confounded by the failure of anti–IL-5 or anti–IL-13 treatments to completely inhibit the
accumulation of eosinophils in lung tissue. By using mice deficient in both IL-5 and eotaxin …
Interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 are thought to play key roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. Although both cytokines use eotaxin to regulate eosinophilia, IL-13 is thought to operate a separate pathway to IL-5 to induce airways hyperreactivity (AHR) in the allergic lung. However, identification of the key pathway(s) used by IL-5 and IL-13 in the disease process is confounded by the failure of anti–IL-5 or anti–IL-13 treatments to completely inhibit the accumulation of eosinophils in lung tissue. By using mice deficient in both IL-5 and eotaxin (IL-5/eotaxin−/−) we have abolished tissue eosinophilia and the induction of AHR in the allergic lung. Notably, in mice deficient in IL-5/eotaxin the ability of CD4+ T helper cell (Th)2 lymphocytes to produce IL-13, a critical regulator of airways smooth muscle constriction and obstruction, was significantly impaired. Moreover, the transfer of eosinophils to IL-5/eotaxin−/− mice overcame the intrinsic defect in T cell IL-13 production. Thus, factors produced by eosinophils may either directly or indirectly modulate the production of IL-13 during Th2 cell development. Our data show that IL-5 and eotaxin intrinsically modulate IL-13 production from Th2 cells and that these signaling systems are not necessarily independent effector pathways and may also be integrated to regulate aspects of allergic disease.
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