title: Differential regulation of the Janus kinase-STAT pathway and biologic function of IL-13 in primary human NK and T cells: a comparative study with IL-4.
abstract: IL-13, a cytokine similar to IL-4, is a regulator of human B cell and monocyte functions. Biologic effects of IL-13 on primary human NK and T cells have not been well defined. We demonstrate that, in primary NK cells, IL-13, but not IL-4, may induce low levels of IFN-gamma secretion. When NK cells were costimulated with IL-13 and IL-2, IL-13 generally resulted in two types of reactivity: IL-13 synergized with IL-2 to stimulate IFN-gamma production or it modestly inhibited IL-2-mediated IFN-gamma production. In both types of donors, the effect of IL-13 on IL-2-induced IFN-gamma production was in marked contrast to the strong inhibition seen with IL-4 in NK cells. Additionally, IL-13 suppresses IL-2-induced NK cytolytic and proliferative activities although less efficiently than IL-4. In T cells, IL-13 inhibits anti-CD3 mAb/IL-2- or PHA-mediated IFN-gamma production and enhances cytolytic potential. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL-13, like IL-4, induces distinct STAT6-DNA binding complexes and tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT6 and Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) in NK and T cells. We observed that Abs directed against unique domains of STAT6 have differential effects on complexes in T cells but not in NK cells, suggesting different STAT6 isoforms. These findings show that IL-13 and IL-4 have the ability to regulate NK and T cell activation and that IL-13 is a potent regulator of STAT6 and JAK3 in these cell types.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kirken
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Malabarba
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ortaldo
mesh_terms: D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007376:Interleukin-2; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases