Accumulating evidence in animal models and human asthma support a central role for IL-13 signaling in disease pathogenesis. In order to identify asthma and therapy associated genes, global transcriptional changes were monitored in mouse lung following antigen challenge (ovalbumin (OVA)), either alone or in the presence of a soluble IL-13 antagonist. Changes in whole lung gene expression after instillation of mIL-13 were also measured both in wild type and STAT6 deficient mice. A striking overlap in the gene expression profiles induced by either OVA challenge or mIL-13 was observed, further strengthening the relationship of IL-13 signaling to asthma. Consistent with results from functional studies, a subset of the OVA-induced gene expression was significantly inhibited by a soluble IL-13 antagonist while IL-13-modulated gene expression was completely attenuated in the absence of STAT6-mediated signaling. Results from these experiments greatly expand our understanding of asthma and provide novel molecular targets for therapy and potential biomarkers of IL-13 antagonism.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The natural history of congenital sutural cataracts. Case report with long-term follow-up.

A 21-year-old patient is presented in whom striking regression of congenital sutural cataracts and progression of lamellar cataracts were documented photographically over an 18-year period. These unexplained findings are at variance with the prevailing impression that congenital nuclear and sutural cataracts are stationary in postnatal life.

Adolescent↗