title: STAT6 expression in T cells, alveolar macrophages and bronchial biopsies of normal and asthmatic subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is characterised by increased numbers of Th2-like cells in the airways and IgE secretion. Generation of Th2 cells requires interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 acting through their specific receptors and activating the transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6). STAT6 knockout mice fail to produce IgE, airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia after allergen sensitisation, suggesting a critical role for STAT6 in allergic responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have investigated the expression of STAT6 in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, alveolar macrophages and bronchial biopsies from 17 normal subjects and 18 mild-moderate steroid-naïve stable asthmatic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STAT6 expression was variable and was detected in T-lymphocytes, macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells from all subjects with no difference between normal and stable asthmatic subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STAT6 expression in different cells suggests that it may be important in regulating the expression of not only Th2-like cytokines in T cells of man, but may also regulate STAT-inducible genes in alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Section of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.|Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caramori
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Borja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cosio
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: K Fan
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tohda
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Adcock