The identity of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the neuropathogenesis of prion diseases remains undefined. Here we have investigated the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines on the progression of prion disease through the use of mice that lack interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-13, or both IL-4 and IL-13. Collectively our data show that among these anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 plays a...

The primary interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor complex on monocytes (type I IL-4 receptor) includes the 140-kDa alpha chain (IL-4R alpha) and the IL-2 receptor gamma chain, gamma(c), which heterodimerize for intracellular signaling, resulting in suppression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible inflammatory mediator production. The activity of IL-13 on human monocytes is very similar to that of IL-4...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute exacerbations in COPD and asthma. RSV infects bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) that trigger RSV associated lung pathology. This study explores whether the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor Roflumilast N-oxide (RNO), alters RSV infection of well-differentiated HBE (WD-HBE) in vitro. WD-HBE were RSV infected in the presence or absence of RNO (0.1-...

The cysteinyl (Cys) leukotrienes (LT)C(4), LTD(4), and LTE(4), are lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. The human LTD(4) receptor (CysLT(1)R) was recently cloned and characterized. The present work was undertaken to study the potential modulation of CysLT(1)R expression by the Th2 cytokines IL-13 and IL-4. In this study, we report that IL-13 up-regulates CysL...

Background and Aim: Atherosclerosis is known as a multifactorial inflammatory disease. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a risk factor, has a potential to trigger or enhance the immune inflammatory reactions in atherosclerosis. Yet, The exact mechanism by which TMAO induces inflammation during atherosclerosis is not well understood. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of IL...

Despite the high prevalence of chronic dermatitis and accompanied intractable itch, therapeutics that specifically target itching have low efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests TLRs contribute to immune activation neural sensitization; however, their roles in itch remain elusive. Here, we show RBL-2H3 mast cell line expresses TLR4 treatment with a antagonist opposes LPS dependent increase mRNA...

Patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibit chronic colonic inflammation caused by a dysregulated mucosal immune response and epithelial barrier disruption. Th2 cytokines, including IL-13, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of UC. IL-13 induces phosphorylation of STAT6, and we previously demonstrated increased epithelial p-STAT6 in children with UC. In this study, we investiga...

AIM o identify the effects of interleukin (IL)-13 on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the IL-13 level in aqueous humor of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. METHODS IL-13 levels in aqueous humor specimens from AMD patients were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ARPE-19 cells were treated with 10 ng/mL IL-13 for 12, 24, and 48h. The cell prolifera...

Mice incapable of generating an efficient Th2 response because of functional deletion of the genes for signal transducer and activation of transcription 6 (Stat6), interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Ralpha), or IL-4 plus IL-13 (IL-4/IL-13) were no more resistant than wild-type (WT) mice to airborne infection with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. WT mice were able to control infection a...