HUMAN LUNG ANAPHYLAXIS RESULTS IN RAPID RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN-4

Background: Interleukin-4 has been implicated as having numerous roles in the inflammatory responses characteristic of allergic asthma. Inte rleukin-4 has been shown to be involved in IEE synthesis, upregulation of VCAM-1 on endothelium, and promotion of inflammatory cell infiltra tion into the airways. Objective: We therefore examined whether IL-4 w as produced after an IgE-mediated response in human lung samples. Resu lts: Anti-IgE treatment of 12 human lungs resulted in the significant release of IL-4 within 30 minutes. Conclusions: Although the source of released IL-4 is unknown, the rapid release of IL-4 suggests that cel ls with performed stores, such as mast cells and eosinophils, are invo lved. Once released. IL-4 may play an important role in the pathogenes is of asthma.