The potential role of interleukin-13 in eosinophilic inflammation in nasal mucosa.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have revealed that interleukin (IL)-13, as well as IL-4, causes de novo surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on endothelial cells of the umbilical vein and accelerates selective eosinophil migration. However, its role in allergic rhinitis remains to be clarified. Of particular interest is whether IL-13 upregulates VCAM-1 expression in human mucosal microvascular endothelial cells (HMMECs), to which eosinophils adhere in nasal mucosa.


METHODS
To understand the potential role of IL-13 in eosinophilic inflammation in nasal mucosa, we examined the effects of IL-13 on the adhesiveness between HMMECs and eosinophils.


RESULTS
IL-13 increased VCAM-1 expression in HMMECs, the adhesiveness of endothelial cells to eosinophils, and the transendothelial migration. On the other hand, IL-13 decreased the adhesiveness of eosinophils to HMMECs, and, as a result, accelerated eosinophil infiltration. Those effects are more potent than was those of IL-4. In addition, we also report that the amount of IL-13 in nasal mucosa was higher than that of IL-4.


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly indicate that IL-13, as well as IL-4, may be important in eosinophilic inflammation in the nasal mucosa.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chiba University, School of Medicine, Chiba City, Japan.
N
N
Terada
N
N
Hamano
G
G
Hohki
T
T
Ikeda
M
M
Sai
T
T
Yamashita
A
A
Konno
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D018793:Interleukin-13; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4