Upregulatory effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 but not interleukin-10 on granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor production by human bronchial epithelial cells

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1996 Nov;15(5):680-7. doi: 10.1165/ajrcmb.15.5.8918375.

Abstract

Airway epithelial cells are known to produce a granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which induces eosinophilic inflammation in bronchial asthma. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, and IL-13 produced by Th2 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. To assess their contributions to airway inflammation, we examined their effects on GM-CSF production by bronchial epithelial cells. Human bronchial epithelial cells were obtained under bronchoscopy from 21 patients with various respiratory diseases and incubated with or without IL-4, IL-10, or IL-13. Then the GM-CSF concentrations in the cell-free supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that IL-4 and IL-13 stimulated GM-CSF production by the epithelial cells dose-dependently, whereas IL-10 did not. The eosinophil survival-stimulating activity in the culture supernatants was closely correlated with GM-CSF concentration and was neutralized by anti-GM-CSF antibody. Thus, IL-4 and IL-13 may contribute to airway inflammation by upregulating GM-CSF production by bronchial epithelial cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Bronchi / cytology
  • Bronchi / drug effects*
  • Bronchi / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Eosinophils / cytology
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Epithelium / drug effects
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / biosynthesis*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / physiology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-10 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Interleukin-13
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor