Interleukin-12 inhibits eotaxin secretion of cultured primary lung cells and alleviates airway inflammation in vivo.
The mechanisms that cause the inflammation of airway and lung tissue in asthma have been studied extensively. It is noted that type 1T helper cell (Th1)-related cytokines could decrease the accumulation of eosinophils in lung tissue and relieve airway constriction. But the therapeutic mechanisms of Th1 cytokines remain unclear. In this study, interleukin-12 (IL-12) DNA plasmid as a therapeutic reagent was delivered intravenously. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were collected from IL-12 treated and control mice, and analyzed for cell composition and eotaxin level. The results showed that IL-12 DNA plasmid could effectively inhibit eosinophilia and airway inflammation in vivo. The level of eotaxin in BAL fluid also decreased. To further investigate the effect of Th1-related cytokines such as IL-12 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the eotaxin level produced by lung cells, primary lung cell culture was established. The results demonstrated that both IL-12 and IFN-gamma could suppress eotaxin secretion from IL-13 or IL-4 stimulated primary lung cell culture. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of IL-12 could not be reversed by the administration of anti-IFN-gamma antibody. All the evidences suggested that IL-12 could regulate airway inflammation by suppressing the eotaxin secretion of lung tissue through an IFN-gamma independent mechanism.
Departments of Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yi-Ling
YL
Ye
Wan-Ching
WC
Huang
Yueh-Lun
YL
Lee
Bor-Luen
BL
Chiang
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
C515457:Ccl11 protein, mouse; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D008081:Liposomes; D018664:Interleukin-12