title: Role of IL-13 in a model of Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in rats.
abstract: IL-13 is a cytokine known to play a role in several pulmonary diseases, including asthma and fibrosis. The role of IL-13 in the context of pulmonary changes induced by helminth infection is unclear. Rats experimentally infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis and treated with anti-IL-13 neutralizing antibody were used to evaluate the role of IL-13 on functional and inflammatory changes of host lungs, and on parasite control. S. venezuelensis-induced airway hyperreactivity was IL-13-independent, but IL-13 played an essential role in driving airway mucus production and eosinophil infiltration. IL-13 was important for the control of egg production but not establishment in the intestine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioquímica e Immunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Avenida Antonio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Ana T M
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Rafael S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Mauro M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Negrão-Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13