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Human lung anaphylaxis results in rapid release of interleukin-4
R A Erger1, B Sahl, T B Casale
1Department of Internal Medicine, VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Background:
Interleukin-4 has been implicated as having numerous roles in the inflammatory responses characteristic of allergic asthma. Interleukin-4 has been shown to be involved in IgE synthesis, upregulation of BCAM-1 on endothelium, and promotion of inflammatory cell infiltration into the airways.
Objective:
We therefore examined whether IL-4 was produced after an IgE-mediated response in human lung samples.
Results:
Anti-IgE treatment of 12 human lungs resulted in the significant release of IL-4 within 30 minutes.
Conclusions:
Although the source of released IL-4 is unknown, the rapid release of IL-4 suggests that cells with performed stores, such as mast cells and eosinophils, are involved. Once released, IL-4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.