Increased expression of Interleukin-13 but not Interleukin-4 in cystic fibrosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from allergic disease, which can complicate treatment of CF lung disease. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 have been shown to be important mediators in allergic disease.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in allergic and non-allergic CF patients.


METHODS
Expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA was investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) of seven CF patients with allergy, of six patients without allergy and of nine healthy subjects as well as in BAL cells of four patients and of all controls. PBM from six patients were incubated with recombinant human IL-13 or human antiIL-13 antibody without and with LPS stimulation and TNFalpha levels were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
IL-13 mRNA expression was increased in allergic and non-allergic patients compared to controls. No significant difference in IL-4 expression could be found between patients and controls. Addition of IL-13 decreased TNFalpha in PBM culture supernatants.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that IL-13 rather than IL-4 might play an important role in both allergic and non-allergic CF patients. IL-13 might also compromise host defence by decreasing TNFalpha production.
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Eppendorf, Germany.
Hans-Peter
HP
Hauber
Djalal
D
Gholami
Gerhard
G
Koppermann
Hans-Eberhard
HE
Heuer
Andreas
A
Meyer
Almuth
A
Pforte
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4