title: IL-6 is required for airway mucus production induced by inhaled fungal allergens.
abstract: Allergic asthma is caused by inhaled allergens and is characterized by airway eosinophilia, as well as mucus hypersecretion, which can lead to airflow obstruction. Despite the association of increased IL-6 levels with human atopic asthma, the contribution of IL-6 to the development of allergic airway inflammation triggered by inhaled allergens remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of IL-6 in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation induced by direct airway exposure to extracts of Aspergillus fumigatus, a common allergen in humans. We show that inhaled A. fumigatus extracts rapidly trigger the production of IL-6 in the airways. IL-6 appears to be dispensable for the recruitment of eosinophils to the lung during the development of allergic airway inflammation. However, IL-6 is essential for mucus hypersecretion by airway epithelial cells triggered in response to inhaled A. fumigatus Ags. Impaired mucus production caused by IL-6 deficiency correlates with a severe reduction in the levels of IL-13, a major inducer of mucin glycoproteins. Thus, IL-6 is a key regulator of specific hallmark features of allergic airway inflammation and it could be a potential target for pulmonary diseases that are associated with goblet cell metaplasia and mucus hypersecretion.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Immunobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors: Wendy A
authors: WA
authors: Neveu
authors: Jenna B
authors: JB
authors: Allard
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Dienz
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Wargo
authors: Gennaro
authors: G
authors: Ciliberto
authors: Laurie A
authors: LA
authors: Whittaker
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Rincon
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009077:Mucins