Current Biology
Volume 8, Issue 6, 12 March 1998, Pages 339-342
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A distinct role for interleukin-13 in Th2-cell-mediated immune responses

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Abstract

Immune responses elicited by allergic reactions and parasitic worm infections are characterised by the induction of T helper 2 (Th2) cells. These cells secrete cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13, which induce the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophils [1], [2]. Previous studies using gastrointestinal nematodes to elucidate the role of Th2-cell-mediated immune responses have demonstrated a causal relationship between T cells and worm expulsion (reviewed in [3]). Although it has been proposed that IL-4 played a central role in these responses, recent studies demonstrated that IL-4−/− mice expel the parasitic gastrointestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis normally [4], suggesting that another T-cell mediator is required for efficient worm clearance. Using IL-13−/− mice, we have demonstrated that, unlike wild-type and IL-4−/− mice, the IL-13−/− animals failed to clear N. brasiliensis infections efficiently, despite developing a robust Th2-like cytokine response to infection. Furthermore, treatment of the IL-13−/− mice with exogenous IL-13 resulted in a reduction in the numbers of worms recovered. The IL-13−/− animals also failed to generate the goblet cell hyperplasia that normally occurs coincident with worm expulsion. This observation may link IL-13 with the production of intestinal mucus which is believed to facilitate worm expulsion. These data support a unique role for IL-13 in Th2-cell-mediated immune responses and demonstrate that IL-13 and IL-4 are not redundant.

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GJ McKenzie and ANJ McKenzie, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK.

A Bancroft and RK Grencis, School of Biological Science, 3.239 Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

E-mail address for ANJ McKenzie (corresponding author): [email protected].