In this review, we will briefly discuss the biological features of IL-13 and summarize recent advances in the role of IL-13 in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
GATA-3<sup>+</sup> IL-13- and IL-5-producing group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been shown to promote tissue repair in barrier organs, but despite extensive research on ILCs in the recent years, their potential role in autoimmune diseases is still incompletely understood.
IL-13 gene polymorphisms were studied in Japanese GD patients (n = 310) and healthy control subjects without antithyroid autoantibodies or a family history of autoimmune disorders (n = 244).
We evaluated associations between candidate genes outside the HLA region-INS, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-4R, and IL-13 and islet autoimmunity among children participating in the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY).
Our results suggest that IL-10 and IL-13 contribute to the pathogenesis of PSS and might explain the B cell abnormalities and the development of lymphoma observed in this autoimmune disease.