The role of IL-13 in established allergic airway disease

C Taube, C Duez, ZH Cui, K Takeda… - The Journal of …, 2002 - journals.aai.org
C Taube, C Duez, ZH Cui, K Takeda, YH Rha, JW Park, A Balhorn, DD Donaldson…
The Journal of Immunology, 2002journals.aai.org
The effectiveness of targeting IL-13 in models where airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR)
and airway inflammation have already been established is not well-described. We
investigated the effects of blocking IL-13 on the early and late phase airway responses and
the development of AHR in previously sensitized and challenged mice. BALB/cByJ mice
were sensitized (days 1 and 14) and challenged (days 28–30) with OVA. Six weeks later
(day 72), previously sensitized/challenged mice were challenged with a single OVA aerosol …
Abstract
The effectiveness of targeting IL-13 in models where airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation have already been established is not well-described. We investigated the effects of blocking IL-13 on the early and late phase airway responses and the development of AHR in previously sensitized and challenged mice. BALB/cByJ mice were sensitized (days 1 and 14) and challenged (days 28–30) with OVA. Six weeks later (day 72), previously sensitized/challenged mice were challenged with a single OVA aerosol and the early and late phase response and development of AHR were determined. Specific in vivo blockade of IL-13 was attained after ip injection of a soluble IL-13Rα2-IgG fusion protein (sIL-13Rα2Fc) on days 71–72 for the early and late responses and on days 71–73 for the development of AHR. sIL-13Rα2Fc administration inhibited the late, but not early, phase response and the OVA challenge-induced changes in lung resistance and dynamic compliance; as well, sIL-13Rα2Fc administration decreased bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia and mucus hypersecretion following the secondary challenge protocols. These results demonstrate that targeting IL-13 alone regulates airway responses when administrated to mice with established allergic airway disease. These data identify the importance of IL-13 in the development of allergen-induced altered airway responsiveness following airway challenge, even when administered before rechallenge of mice in which allergic disease had been previously established.
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