title: IL-13 Stimulates Proliferation and Expression of Mucin and Immunomodulatory Genes in Cultured Conjunctival Goblet Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of IL-13 on goblet cell proliferation, differentiation, and expression of mucin and immunomodulatory genes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Explants were excised from the conjunctiva of young C57BL/6 mice. Cultures received 200 μL per week of either Keratinocyte media (KSFM) or KSFM supplemented with 10 ng/mL IL-13 and were incubated for 3 (D3), 7 (D7), or 14 (D14) days. Subsequently, cell proliferation was assessed or cultures were immunostained, collected for dot blot, or for reverse transcription (RT) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) or for RT-PCR gene array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cultured conjunctival epithelium expressed goblet cell associated keratin 7 and mucins MUC5AC and MUC2 and when stimulated with IL-13 showed increased proliferation at D3 and D7 (P < 0.05) compared with control. MUC5AC expression was increased in the IL-13-treated group at D3 and D14 (P < 0.05). IL-13-treated cultures showed increased chemokine ligand 26 (CCL26), chloride channel calcium activated channel 3 (CLCA3), fas ligand (FasL), and Relm-β at D7. All conjunctival cultures expressed MUC2, and its expression was decreased at D3 (P < 0.05) and increased at D14 (P < 0.05) with IL-13 treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that conjunctival goblet cells are IL-13 responsive cells that produce factors known to maintain epithelial barrier, stimulate mucin production, and modulate immune response in nonocular mucosa when treated with IL-13. The functional significance of IL-13-stimulated factors remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and the Ocular Surface Center Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tukler Henriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and the Ocular Surface Center Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
authors.forename: Terry G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Coursey
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Pathology & Immunology and the Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and the Ocular Surface Center Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
authors.forename: Cintia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: De Paiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and the Ocular Surface Center Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pflugfelder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; C524679:Muc5ac protein, mouse; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D012333:RNA, Messenger