| IL-13 - Interleukin-13
Type: Type-2 cytokine / immune signaling protein
Function: IL-13 is a type-2 immune cytokine produced by cells including group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), Th2 lymphocytes, mast cells, and eosinophils. IL-13 signals primarily through a receptor complex containing IL-13Rα1 and IL-4Rα, activating JAK/STAT6 and related pathways. It regulates alternative macrophage activation, mucus production, fibrosis, tissue remodeling, allergic inflammation, and type-2 immune responses.
Cancer: ↑ Frequently increased or functionally activated in tumor-associated type-2 immune responses. IL-13 can promote immunosuppressive macrophage polarization, stromal remodeling, fibrosis, tumor-cell survival, migration, invasion, and metastasis through IL-13 receptor and STAT6 signaling. Its effects remain tumor- and immune-context dependent.
Alzheimer's Disease: ↕ Context-dependent. IL-13 can modulate microglial and macrophage activation toward alternative immune phenotypes and may reduce selected pro-inflammatory responses, but its effects on amyloid pathology, neuroinflammation, and neuronal function vary by model and disease stage.
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