title: IL-13 selectively induces vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in human endothelial cells.
abstract: Previous studies with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) have shown that the cytokine IL-4 induces adherence of human eosinophils, but not neutrophils, because of its ability to selectively induce surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Because the cytokine IL-13 shares a number of biologic properties with IL-4, we examined the effect of IL-13 on the expression and function of adhesion molecules on HUVEC. Incubation of HUVEC for 4 to 48 h with IL-13 (0.1 to 15 U/ml) induced surface expression of VCAM-1, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, without significantly affecting expression of E-selectin or intercellular adhesion molecule-1. The kinetics and maximal IL-13-induced expression of VCAM-1 were similar to those seen with IL-4. Treatment of HUVEC with an optimal concentration of IL-13 (15 U/ml for 24 h) induced adhesiveness for eosinophils, but not for neutrophils, and adhesion was completely inhibited by mAb recognizing VCAM-1 or alpha 4 integrin (CD49d). These results demonstrate that IL-13, like IL-4, selectively stimulates HUVEC to express functional cell surface VCAM-1 and suggest a possible role for IL-13 in promoting VCAM-1/alpha 4 integrin-dependent accumulation of eosinophils during allergic and other inflammatory reactions in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, MD 21224.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bochner
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Klunk
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sterbinsky
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Coffman
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schleimer
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000502:physiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins; D018793:Interleukin-13; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D039441:Integrin alpha4