J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Aug;24(4):614-620. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.4.614.

Interleukin-13 and Its Receptors in Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia: Clinical Implications for Lung Function

• Park SW
• Ahn MH
• Jang HK
• Jang AS
• Kim DJ
• Koh ES
• Park JS
• Uh ST
• Kim YH
• Park JS
• Paik SH
• Shin HK
• Youm W
• Park CS

• KMID: 1779192
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.4.614

Abstract

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is characterized by varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis. IL-13 and IL-4 are strong inducers of tissue fibrosis, whereas IFN-gamma has antifibrotic potential. However, the roles of these substances in IIP remain unknown. IL-13, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were measured in the BAL fluid of 16 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, 10 nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) patients, and 8 normal controls. The expression of IL-13 and IL-13Ralpha1/alpha2 in lung tissues was analyzed using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. IL-13 levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than the others (P<0.05). IL-4 levels were higher in both IPF and NSIP patients than in normal controls (P<0.05), and IFN-gamma levels were lower in NSIP patients than in normal controls (P=0.047). IL-13 levels correlated inversely with FVC% (r=-0.47, P=0.043) and DLCO% (r=-0.58, P=0.014) in IPF and NSIP patients. IL-13 was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13Ralpha1, rather than IL-13Ralpha2, was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13 and its receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in IIP and appear to be related to the severity of the disease.

Keyword

Interleukin-13; Interleukin-13 Receptor Alpha1 Subunit; Interleukin-13 Receptor Alpha2 Subunit; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Lung Function; NSIP

MeSH Terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias/diagnosis/*metabolism
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/diagnosis/*metabolism
Interferon-gamma/analysis
Interleukin-13/*analysis
Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit/*metabolism
Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit/*metabolism
Interleukin-4/analysis
Lung/physiopathology
Male
Middle Aged

Figure

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  Fig. 1 IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-γ levels in the BAL fluids of IPF and NSIP patients and of normal controls. Horizontal bars represent the mean levels of the three groups.

• 

  Fig. 2 Correlation between IL-13 levels and FVC (% pred) and DLCO (% pred) in patients with IPF and NSIP. Open and closed circles represent NSIP and IPF patients, respectively. IL-13 showed a significant inverse correlation with FVC (% pred) (r=-0.47, P=0.043) and DLCO (% pred) (r=-0.58, P=0.014).

• 

  Fig. 3 Immunohistochemical analysis of IL-13 and IL-13Rα1/IL-13Rα2 expression in lung tissues from patients with IPF and from controls. IL-13 was only negligibly expressed in controls (A) but was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle (B), bronchial epithelium, especially the hyperplastic regenerating epithelium (C), alveolar macrophages (D), endothelium (E), and interstitum (F) of IPF patients. IL-13Rα1 was strongly expressed by the bronchial epithelium and smooth muscle of IPF patients (G). IL-13Rα2 was weakly expressed in the same regions of IPF patients (H). Magnification: ×20 (A), ×40 (B), ×100 (C, F-H), and ×200 (D, E).

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