Alcohol primes the airway for increased interleukin-13 signaling.

Background:  Using an experimental model of airway fibrosis following lung transplantation, we recently showed that chronic alcohol ingestion by donor rats amplifies airway fibrosis in the recipient. Associated with alcohol-mediated amplification of airway fibrosis is increased transforming growth factor β-1(TGFβ1) and α-smooth muscle actin expression. Other studies have shown that interleukin-13 (IL-13) modulates TGFβ1 signaling during experimentally-induced airway fibrosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that IL-13 is a component of alcohol-mediated amplification of pro-fibrotic mediators in the alcoholic lung. Methods:  To test this hypothesis, we analyzed tracheal epithelial cells and type II alveolar cells from control- or alcohol-fed rats, alcohol-treated mouse lung fibroblasts, and human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro for expression of various components of the IL-13 signaling pathway. Signaling via the IL-13 pathway was assessed by measuring levels of phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription-6 (STAT6). In addition, we performed heterotopic tracheal transplantation using control-fed and alcohol-fed donor rats and analyzed tracheal allografts for expression of components of the IL-13 signaling pathway by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analyses. Results:  Interleukin-13 expression was detected in type II alveolar epithelial cells and human bronchial epithelial cells, but not in lung fibroblasts. IL-13 expression was decreased in whole lung and type II cells in response to alcohol exposure. In all cell types analyzed, expression of IL-13 signaling receptor (IL-13Rα1) mRNA was markedly increased. In contrast, mRNA and protein expression of the IL-13 decoy receptor (IL-13Rα2) were decreased in all cells analyzed. Exposure to alcohol also increased STAT6 phosphorylation in response to IL-13 and lipopolysaccharide. Conclusions:  Data from multiple cell types in the pulmonary system suggest that IL-13 and its receptors play a role in alcohol-mediated activation of pro-fibrotic pathways. Taken together, these data suggest that alcohol primes the airway for increased IL-13 signaling and subsequent tissue remodeling upon injury such as transplantation.