IL13

The IL13 gene is one of a class of immune hormones known as 'cytokines', producing interleukin 13.

IL13 down-regulates the activity of white blood cells known as 'macrophages', and thereby inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This cytokine is found to be critical to the pathogenesis of allergen-induced asthma but operates through mechanisms independent of IgE and eosinophils. Dietary lectins have been shown to produce immunologic reactions due to their ability to stimulate IL13.

This gene encodes an immunoregulatory cytokine produced primarily by activated Th2 cells. This cytokine is involved in several stages of B-cell maturation and differentiation. It up-regulates CD23 and MHC class II expression and promotes IgE isotype switching of B cells. This cytokine down-regulates macrophage activity thereby inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This cytokine is found to be critical to the pathogenesis of allergen-induced asthma but operates through mechanisms independent of IgE and eosinophils. This gene, IL3, IL5, IL4, and CSF2 form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q, with this gene particularly close to IL4.

There are specific nutrient cofactors that act as antagonists to IL13 expression such as 6-gingerol, D-mannose, plant stanol esters, theanine, vitamin A and D3.