Regulation of endothelial and mesothelial cell function by interleukin-13: selective induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and amplification of interleukin-6 production

Blood. 1994 Sep 15;84(6):1913-21.

Abstract

The present study was designed to explore the interaction of interleukin-13 (IL-13) with vascular endothelial cells (EC). In vitro exposure to IL-13 of human umbilical vein EC induced surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). At optimal concentrations (10 to 50 ng/mL) and exposure times (24 hours), IL-13 was a twofold to threefold less effective inducer of VCAM-1 than IL-1, which was used as reference EC activator. When IL-13 was combined with IL-1, an almost additive induction of VCAM-1 was observed. Induction of VCAM-1 by IL-13 was selective in that E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were unaffected. IL-13 caused a modest reduction of IL-1 induction of E-selectin and ICAM-1. Surface expression of VCAM-1 on IL-13-treated cells was associated with mRNA induction (as assessed by Northern analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), with predominance of transcripts encoding the 7 Ig domain form of this molecule. In agreement with previous reports, IL-13 inhibited cytokine production in human monocytes. In contrast, IL-13 was a weak inducer and an amplifier (in concert with IL-1) of IL-6 expression in EC. Mesothelial cells, which share properties with EC and regulate the traffic and function of leukocytes in serosal cavities, were stimulated to express VCAM-1 and IL-6 by IL-13. Thus, IL-13 elicits a spectrum of responses in vascular endothelium remarkably similar to that of IL-4 and IL-10. Interaction of these cytokines with vascular endothelium may play an important role in the induction and expression of Th2-dependent responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • E-Selectin
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukins / pharmacology*
  • Mesoderm / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • E-Selectin
  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase