Leukotrienes, IL-13, and chemokines cooperate to induce BHR and mucus in allergic mouse lungs.

In mice, intratracheal challenges with antigen (ovalbumin) or recombinant murine interleukin-13 (IL-13) induce lung inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), and mucus accumulation as independent events (Singer M, Lefort J, and Vargaftig BB. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 26: 74-84, 2002), largely mediated by leukotrienes (LT). We previously showed that LTC(4) was released 15 min after ovalbumin, and we show that it induces the expression of monocyte chemoattractant proteins 1 and 5 and KC in the lungs, as well as IL-13 mRNA. Instilled intratracheally, these chemokines induced BHR and mucus accumulation, which were inhibited by the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton and by the cysteinyl-LT receptor antagonist MK-571, suggesting mediation by cysteinyl-LT. Because these chemokines also induced release of LT into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and IL-13 into the lungs, we hypothesize that LT- and chemokine-based loops for positive-feedback regulations cooperate to maintain and amplify BHR and lung mucus accumulation after allergic challenge and in situations where IL-13, LT, or chemokines are generated.