Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology
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Allergol Int
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Interleukin (IL)-13 induces goblet cell metaplasia and plays an important role in mucus hypersecretion in asthma. We previously reported that IL-13 induced goblet cell differentiation along with less ciliated cell differentiation in guinea pig tracheal epithelial cells in vitro. In this study, we asked whether elimination of IL-13 could reverse the established goblet cell metaplasia into ciliated epithelia. ⋯ Elimination of IL-13 reverses goblet cell metaplasia into ciliated epithelia in vitro, and transition of goblet cells to other phenotypes, especially ciliated cells, may be involved in this phenomenon. IL-13 inhibition may be a therapeutic strategy of established goblet cell metaplasia in asthma.