Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is an immunoregulatory protein, which shares similarity in structure and function with IL-4. IL-13 is mainly secreted by Tʜ2 cells, as well as mast cells and NK cells, and binds a multi-subunit receptor, including the alpha chain of the IL-4 receptor, which downstream activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT-6). Although IL-13 is involved in the pathogenesis of airway diseases such as asthma, it also plays a protective role for the mucosa, via induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and other anti-inflammatory effects. Similarly to IL-4, IL-13 induces humoral responses favoring B cell proliferation and isotype switching to IgE, whereas, on monocytes and macrophages, it counteracts the effects of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and increasing IL-1RA expression. IL-13 acts on hematopoietic differentiation and can synergize with IL-2 in the activation of IFN-γ mediated killer activity of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. The protein sequences of human and mouse IL-13 share 58% identity and are cross species reactive.
Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is an immunoregulatory protein, which shares similarity in structure and function with IL-4. IL-13 is mainly secreted by Tʜ2 cells, as well as mast cells and NK cells, and binds a multi-subunit receptor, including the alpha chain of the IL-4 receptor, which downstream activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT-6). Although IL-13 is involved in the pathogenesis of airway diseases such as asthma, it also plays a protective role for the mucosa, via induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and other anti-inflammatory effects. Similarly to IL-4, IL-13 induces humoral responses favoring B cell proliferation and isotype switching to IgE, whereas, on monocytes and macrophages, it counteracts the effects of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and increasing IL-1RA expression. IL-13 acts on hematopoietic differentiation and can synergize with IL-2 in the activation of IFN-γ mediated killer activity of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. The protein sequences of human and mouse IL-13 share 58% identity and are cross species reactive.