Interleukin-13 is an endothelial chemotaxin.
Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a recently described lymphokine. Like IL-4, IL-13 induces the production of IL-1 receptor antagonists and suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages and monocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-13 on the migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs). We examined the effect of IL-13 on endothelial chemotaxis under two conditions: first, endothelial cells were exposed to a combination of IL-13 and a known chemotaxin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); second, endothelial cells were exposed to IL-13 alone. The effects of IL-13 on endothelial proliferation were also examined. IL-13 showed no inhibitory effects on bFGF-induced chemotactic activity on either HUVECs or HMVECs. IL-13 demonstrated chemotactic activity for HUVECs and HMVECs. For both cell types, peak chemotactic activity was at or above that of bFGF (60 nM). By varying concentrations of IL-13 in the upper and lower wells of the chemotaxis chambers, we found IL-13 to be chemotactic, and not chemokinetic, for HUVECs and HMVECs. IL-13 did not induce mitogenesis of either HUVECs or HMVECs. Although IL-13 has been shown to have many anti-inflammatory actions, these results suggest a novel role for IL-13 as a proinflammatory proangiogenic cytokine.
Halloran
M M
MM
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill 60611, USA.
Haskell
C J
CJ
Woods
J M
JM
Hosaka
S
S
Koch
A E
AE
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D018925:Chemokines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D018925:Chemokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2