The IL-6R α chain controls lung CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg development and function during allergic airway inflammation in vivo
J. Clin. Invest. Aysefa Doganci, et al. 115:313 doi:10.1172/JCI22433 [Go to this article.]

Figure 2
Local blockade of sIL-6R by gp130-Fc downregulates IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels and reduces GATA-3 expression in experimental asthma. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA whereas control mice were given saline. Some OVA-sensitized mice received additional treatment with gp130-Fc to block sIL-6R function in vivo, as indicated. gp130-Fc treatment was associated with a significant decrease in IL-4 (A), IL-5 (B), and IL-13 (C) levels in BALF of OVA-sensitized mice. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. Data represent mean values ± SEM from 5 mice per group. (D) Total lung proteins were isolated from gp130-Fc–treated mice and untreated control mice at day 28 and analyzed by Western blot analysis after immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody directed against GATA-3. Furthermore, ERK2 expression was determined on the same blot after membrane stripping and incubation with an anti–ERK-2 antibody. Each lane in the Western blot was loaded with 50 μg proteins isolated from different mice (saline, n = 4; OVA, n = 5; OVA + gp130-Fc, n = 5). Quantification of Western blots by densitometry is reported in E and shows decreased GATA-3 expression after i.n. delivery of gp130-Fc in OVA-sensitized and -challenged mice (*P < 0.05; ***P = 0.00056). (F) RT-PCR for GATA-3 and T-bet in 10⁵ lung CD4⁺ T cells per group after total RNA extraction. Both anti–IL-6R antibody and gp130-Fc treatment led to upregulation of T-bet, while GATA-3 remained unchanged in lung OVA-specific CD4⁺ T cells.