IL4 and IL13 strongly influence bronchial hyperreactivity in response to allergen, airway remodeling, airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle proliferation.
This minor IL-4 2-allele was also associated with higher IgE levels, with a higher risk for a positive skin prick test and with a trend for a higher risk for bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
De novo or augmented inhaled glucocorticoid therapy was associated with significant reductions in the percentages of CD4 T cells expressing IL-5 and IL-4 mRNA, as well as improvements in lung function, symptom scores, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to metacholine (PD20) in both the atopic and nonatopic asthmatics.