Mechanical stretch and angiotensin II increase interleukin-13 production and interleukin-13 receptor α2 expression in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes

Abstract

Background: The high affinity receptor for interleukin (IL)-13, IL-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2), acts as a decoy receptor for IL-13, modulates fibrosis and has an anti-tumor effect. Recently, IL-13Rα2 has been considered as a therapeutic target for fibrosis and tumor growth. However, the mechanism of IL-13Rα2 expression in cardiomyocytes is unclear. Methods and Results: The mechanism of IL-13Rα2 expression was examined using cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Cyclical mechanical stretch induced IL-13Rα2 mRNA expression in rat cardiomyocytes. Treatment with angiotensin II, which plays a pivotal role in mechanical stretch-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, upregulated IL-13Rα2 mRNA expression in rat cardiomyocytes. IL-13Rα2 mRNA expression was also upregulated through IL-13 treatment. Furthermore, mechanical stretch and angiotensin II treatment caused IL-13 secretion from rat cardiomyocytes, which was suppressed by angiotensin type1 receptor (AT1R) RNA interference. Upregulation of IL-13Rα2 mRNA expression through mechanical stretch, angiotensin II treatment and IL-13 treatment was inhibited by anti-IL-13Rα1 antibody and STAT6 depletion through RNA interference. Positive immunohistochemical staining for IL-13Rα2 was observed in the myocardium of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from the failing human heart, but not in autopsy specimens from control subjects. Conclusion: IL-13 might act in an autocrine and paracrine fashion to upregulate IL-13Rα2 expression in cardiomyocytes.