Long-term IL-33-producing epithelial progenitor cells in chronic obstructive lung disease.

ABSTRACT: Chronic obstructive lung disease is characterized by persistent abnormalities in epithelial and immune cell function that are driven, at least in part, by infection. Analysis of parainfluenza virus infection in mice revealed an unexpected role for innate immune cells in IL-13-dependent chronic lung disease, but the upstream driver for the immune axis in this model and in humans with similar disease was undefined. We demonstrate here that lung levels of IL-33 are selectively increased in postviral mice with chronic obstructive lung disease and in humans with very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the mouse model, IL-33/IL-33 receptor signaling was required for Il13 and mucin gene expression, and Il33 gene expression was localized to a virus-induced subset of airway ser

SUBMITTER: Byers DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3754239 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature