title: Interleukin 13 and its role in gut defence and inflammation.
abstract: Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is a cytokine of increasing interest to gastroenterologists because of its developing role in ulcerative colitis, eosinophilic oesophagitis (EO) and fibrosis. Recent data show that IL-13 may play an important role in a novel innate immune response since it can be released by signals from an injured or inflamed epithelium, of particular relevance to the gut. Animal models of IL-13-driven inflammation (from asthma to colitis and EO) are being translated to human disease and providing insight into potential strategies for new therapies. In fact, multiple clinical trials using anti-IL-13 drugs are underway in asthma and are being extended to gastrointestinal diseases. This review presents the current knowledge on IL-13 production and function in the gut, including the cells and receptor signalling pathways involved in mediating IL-13 effects, the proposed mechanisms of IL-13 induced gut disease and the many drugs currently being tested that target IL-13 related pathways.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd., SHEL613, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. pmannon@uab.edu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mannon
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reinisch
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005355:Fibrosis; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13