Mast cells express IL‐13R<i>α</i>1: IL‐13 promotes human lung mast cell proliferation and Fc<i>ɛ</i>RI expression

Abstract

Human lung mast cell express IL-13Ralpha1 and activation by IL-13 for 5 days increased FcepsilonRI expression and proliferation. Histamine release was not affected by short-term priming with IL-13, but was upregulated by priming for 5 days suggesting that this effect was mediated by the increased FcepsilonRI expression. These data support the view that targeting IL-13 may be beneficial in the treatment of asthma.