IL-13-induced proliferation of airway epithelial cells: mediation by intracellular growth factor mobilization and ADAM17.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The pleiotrophic cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 features prominently in allergic and inflammatory diseases. In allergic asthma, IL-13 is well established as an inducer of airway inflammation and tissue remodeling. We demonstrated previously that IL-13 induces release of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) from human bronchial epithelial cells, with proliferation of these cells mediated by the autocrine/paracrine action of this growth factor. TGFalpha exists as an integral membrane protein and requires proteolytic processing to its mature form, with a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)17 responsible for this processing in a variety of tissues.

Methods

In this study, normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells grown in air/liquid interface (ALI) cultu

SUBMITTER: Booth BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1976612 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature