| First Author | Neuper T | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 51 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 191-196 |
| PubMed ID | 32648940 | Mgi Jnum | J:302241 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6507794 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.202048547 |
| Citation | Neuper T, et al. (2021) IL-31 transgenic mice show reduced allergen-induced lung inflammation. Eur J Immunol 51(1):191-196 |
| abstractText | Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a Th2 cell-derived cytokine that has been closely linked to pruritic skin inflammation. More recently, enhanced IL-31 serum levels have also been observed in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to unravel the contribution of IL-31 to allergen-induced lung inflammation. We analyzed lung inflammation in response to the timothy grass (Phleum pratense) pollen allergen Phl p 5 in C57BL/6 wild-type (wt) mice, IL-31 transgenic (IL-31tg) mice, and IL-31 receptor alpha-deficient animals (IL-31RA(-/-) ). IL-31 and IL-31RA levels were monitored by qRT-PCR. Cellular infiltrate in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue inflammation, mucus production as well as epithelial thickness were measured by flow cytometry and histomorphology. While allergen challenge induced IL-31RA expression in lung tissue of wt and IL-31tg mice, high IL-31 expression was exclusively observed in lung tissue of IL-31tg mice. Upon Phl p 5 challenge, IL-31tg mice showed reduced numbers of leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF and lung tissue as well as diminished mucin expression and less pronounced epithelial thickening compared to IL-31RA(-/-) or wt animals. These findings suggest that the IL-31/IL-31RA axis may regulate local, allergen-induced inflammation in the lungs. |
