Interleukin-13 / IL-13 (mouse) ELISA

Interleukin-13 is a Th2-type cytokine, secreted from CD4(+) T cells, mast cells, basophils and eosinophils. The IL-13 gene generates a cluster with other Th2-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5. IL-13 is an immunoregulatory cytokine and a key mediator in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. It mediates its effects by interacting with a complex receptor system comprised of IL-4Ralpha and two IL-13 binding proteins, IL-13Ralpha1 and IL-13Ralpha2. IL-13 receptors are expressed on human B cells, basophils, eosinophils, mast cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, monocytes, macrophages, respiratory epithelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. However, functional IL-13 receptors have not been demonstrated on human or mouse T cells. Thus unlike IL-4, IL-13 does not appear to be important in the initial differentiation of CD4 T cells into T(H)2-type cells but rather appears to be important in the effector phase of allergic inflammation. The important role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma as well as other allergic diseases has been recognized, based mainly on analyses of mouse models. Synonyms: ALRH, BHR1, allergic rhinitis