title: IL-13 suppresses double-stranded RNA-induced IFN-λ production in lung cells.
abstract: Acute asthma exacerbations are frequently associated with respiratory viral infections. Although impaired production of type III IFNs (IFN-λs) is related to the severity of asthma exacerbation, the mechanisms underlying deficient IFN-λ production in asthma are poorly understood. Airway epithelial cells were stimulated in vitro with a synthetic mimetic of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). IL-13, a crucial cytokine responsible for asthma pathogenesis, suppressed dsRNA-induced expression of IFN-λs, and JAK inhibitor AG490 prevented the suppression by IL-13. IL-13 per se did not affect IFN-λ production or the expressions of membrane dsRNA receptor TLR3 and of cytoplasmic receptors RIG-I and MDA5. IL-13-deficient mice exhibited more enhanced IFN-λ expression after intratracheal instillation of dsRNA than wild-type mice, whereas IFN-λ expression after dsRNA was absent in the mouse lungs of the OVA-induced asthma model. These findings suggest that IL-13 may be a putative cytokine suppressing IFN-λ production against airway viral infections in asthmatics.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuyama
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kan-o
authors.forename: Naotaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011070:Poly I-C