title: Interleukin-13 in asthma pathogenesis.
abstract: Numerous studies have clearly shown that the Th2 cytokine, interleukin (IL)-13, is the central regulator of the allergic diathesis. Initial studies in animal models of disease provided compelling evidence that IL-13, independent of other Th2 cytokines, was both necessary and sufficient to induce all features of allergic asthma. The importance of IL-13 in allergic disorders in humans is supported by consistent associations between tissue IL-13 levels and genetic variants in the IL-13 gene with asthma and related traits. With the preponderance of evidence continuing to support the importance of IL-13 in allergic disorders, attention is now turned toward understanding the mechanisms by which this cytokine might mediate the pathophysiologic features of allergic disease. The emerging paradigm is that IL-13 induces features of the allergic response via its actions on epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells, not through traditional effector pathways involving eosinophils and IgE-mediated events. In light of these recent developments, in this review our current understanding of the role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of asthma is explored, with a particular focus on new insights into the mechanisms by which IL-13 induces the features of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunobiology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnett Avenue, MLC 7038, Cincinnati, OH 45208, USA. wildc7@chmcc.org
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wills-Karp
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C508181:IL13RA1 protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13