Interleukin-13 induces tissue fibrosis by selectively stimulating and activating transforming growth factor β1

Interleukin (IL)-13 is a key mediator of tissue fibrosis caused by T helper cell type 2 inflammation. We hypothesized that the fibrogenic effects of IL-13 are mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. To test this hypothesis we compared the regulation of TGF-beta in lungs from wild-type mice and CC10-IL-13 mice in which IL-13 overexpression causes pulmonary fibrosis. IL-13 selectively stimulated TGF-beta (1) production in transgenic animals and macrophages were the major site of TGF-beta (1) production and deposition in these tissues. IL-13 also activated TGF-beta (1) in vivo. This activation was associated with decreased levels of mRNA encoding latent TGF-beta -binding protein-1 and increased MRNA encoding urinary plasminogen activator, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and CD44. TGF-beta (1) activation was abrogated by the plasmin/serine protease antagonist aprotinin. It was also decreased in progeny of crosses of CC10-IL-13 mice and MMP-9 null mice but was not altered in crosses with CD44 null animals. IL-13-induced fibrosis was also significantly ameliorated by treatment with the TGF-beta antagonist soluble TGF betaR-Fc (sTGF betaR-Fc). These studies demonstrate that IL-13 is a potent stimulator and activator of TGF-beta (1) in vivo. They also demonstrate that this activation is mediated by a plasmin/serine protease- and MMP-9-dependent and CD44-independent mechanism(s) and that the fibrogenic effects of IL-13 are mediated, in great extent, by this TGF-beta pathway.