Kinetic analysis of IL-4 and IL-13 production in chronic experimental asthma.

• Main Author: Seak, Jonathan Kang Yi.
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/53791
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines secreted by T helper 2 cells are deeply implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. The comprehension of the kinetics of IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines and its signaling pathway may assist in the formulation of treatment strategies targeting these Th2 cytokines. In this study, we aim to determine the kinetics of IL-4 and IL-13 production, as well as their downstream targets, during the progression of experimental asthma. We utilize a model of experimental asthma induced in A/J mice via intranasal administration of chicken ovalbumin (OVA). We found that the production of IL-4 protein progressively increases in the airways during the four weeks OVA treatment, while IL-13 production reaches a plateau at two weeks of OVA treatment and is maintained thereafter. Using real time PCR analysis, we also detected an increase in downstream targets of IL-4/IL-13, such as IL-13Rα2, CCL11 and Muc5ac after OVA treatment.