IL-13 is a central mediator of chemical-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice

While the importance of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 as a central mediator of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) has been described in allergic protein-induced asthma, this has never been investigated in chemical-induced asthma.

We examined the importance of IL-13 in a mouse model of chemical-induced AHR, using toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI).

In a first set-up, wild type (WT) and IL-13 knockout (KO) C57Bl/6 mice were dermally treated on days 1 and 8 with 1% TDI or vehicle (acetone/olive oil) on both ears. On day 15, mice received an intranasal instillation with 0.1% TDI or vehicle. In a second set-up, WT mice sensitized with 1% TDI or vehicle, received i.v. either anti-IL-13 or control antibody prior to the intranasal challenge.

TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged WT mice showed AHR to methacholine, in contrast to TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged IL-13 KO mice, which also showed lower levels of total serum IgE. TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged IL-13 KO mice had lower numbers of T-cells in the auricular lymph nodes. TDI-treated WT mice, receiving anti-IL-13, showed no AHR, in contrast to those receiving control antibody, despite increased levels of IgE. Anti-IL-13 treatment in TDI-treated WT mice resulted in lower levels of serum IL-13, but did not induce changes in T- and B-cell numbers, and in the cytokine production profile.

We conclude that IL-13 plays a critical role in the effector phase of chemical-induced, immune-mediated AHR. This implicates that anti-IL-13 treatment could have a beneficial effect in patients with this asthma phenotype.