Interleukin-18, IL-18 binding protein and IL-18 receptor expression in asthma: a hypothesis showing IL-18 promotes epithelial cell differentiation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In asthma, genome-wide association studies have shown that interleukin-18 (IL-18) receptor 1 gene (IL-18R1) and sputum IL-18 are increased during exacerbations. However, the role of the IL-18 axis in bronchial epithelial function is unclear. To investigate IL-18, IL-18 binding protein (BP) and IL-18R expression in bronchial biopsies and sputum samples from patients with asthma, and to determine its functional role using in vitro bronchial epithelial cells.

Methods

The expression of IL-18, IL-18BP and IL-18Rα was examined in subjects with asthma and healthy controls in bronchial biopsies by immunohistochemistry and IL-18 and IL-18BP release in sputum. In epithelial cells, the mRNA and protein expression of IL-18, IL-18BP, IL-18Rα and IL-18Rβ was assess

SUBMITTER: Kaur D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8234286 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature