[Involvement of interleukin-4, and -13 in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases]

Allergic diseases are immunologic disorders in which various kinds of cells and many mediators are involved. Among them, the importance of interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-13 has recently emerged, based on the analyses of cytokine expression profiles in lesions, model mice, genetic factors, and responses to newly developed reagents. It is known that IL-4 and IL-13 are involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, particularly bronchial asthma, by inducing class switching in B cells and expansion of Th2-type cells. However, IL-4 and IL-13 have a pivotal role in causing bronchial asthma by acting directly on bronchial tissues. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the IL-13 gene is genetically correlated with bronchial asthma. These analyses provide new information for developing better methods of diagnosing and treating bronchial asthma.