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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 293/2/L305    most recent 00147.2007v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mishra, A. Articles by Rothenberg, M. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mishra, A. Articles by Rothenberg, M. E.

EDITORIAL FOCUS

Resistin-like molecule- is an allergen-induced cytokine with inflammatory and remodeling activity in the murine lung

¹Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; and ²Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated, Tarrytown, New York

Submitted 16 April 2007 ; accepted in final form 27 May 2007

Resistin-like molecule (RELM)- is a cysteine-rich cytokine implicated in insulin resistance and asthmatic responses, but its function remains an enigma. We now report that RELM- has a role in promoting airway inflammation and lung remodeling in the mouse lung. RELM- is strongly induced by diverse allergens and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines by an IL-13- and STAT6-dependent mechanism. To understand the in vivo role of RELM-, we delivered recombinant murine RELM- intratracheally to naïve mice. RELM- induced dose-dependent leukocyte accumulation (most prominently involving macrophages) and goblet cell hyperplasia. The most prominent effect induced by RELM- was increased perivascular and peribronchial collagen deposition. Mice genetically deficient in RELM- had reduced accumulation of collagen and goblet cell hyperplasia in an experimental model of allergic airway inflammation. In vitro experiments demonstrated that RELM- had fibroblast motogenic activity. These results identify RELM- as a Th2-associated cytokine with potent inflammatory and remodeling activity.

lymphocytes; asthma; fibrosis