Interleukin 13 (IL-13)1 is a T-cell-derived cytokine that exhibits a broad range of activities in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. Many of the actions of IL-13 are also exhibited by another T-cell-derived cytokine, IL-4, with which it shares approximately 30% amino acid sequence identity. These shared activities include down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines (1), induction of expression of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (2), induction of surface expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (3), induction of CD23 and IgE expression on B cells (4), costimulation with anti

Chimeric proteins provide a unique opportunity to target therapeutic bacterial toxins to a subset of specific cells. We have generated a new recombinant chimeric toxin composed of human interleukin 13 (hIL13) and a Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) mutant, PE38QQR. The hIL13-PE38QQR chimera is highly cytotoxic to cell lines derived from several human epithelial carcinomas such as adenocarcinoma of stomach, colon, and skin. The cytotoxic action of hIL13-PE38QQR, which can only occur upon internalization of ligand-receptor complex, is blocked by an excess of hIL13 but not of hIL2. This action is not solely hIL13-specific because an excess of hIL4 also blocks the cytotoxicity of hIL13-toxin. Conversely, hIL13 blocks the cytotoxicity of a hIL4-PE38QQR chimera. Binding studies showed that hIL13 displaces competitively 125I-labeled hIL4-PE38QQR on carcinoma cells. These results indicate that IL4 and IL13 compete for a common binding site on the studied human cell lines. Despite this competition, hIL4 but not hIL13 decreased protein synthesis in malignant cells susceptible to the cytotoxicity of both hIL13- and hIL4-PE38QQR. Our results suggest that a spectrum of human carcinomas express binding sites for IL13. Furthermore, hIL13 and hIL4 compete reciprocally for a form of the receptor that is internalized upon binding a ligand. Thus, cancer cells represent an interesting model for studying receptors for these two growth factors. Finally, hIL13-PE38QQR may be a useful agent in the treatment of several malignancies.

1993. 91:88-93.)

The vast majority of brain cancers (gliomas) express a receptor (R) for interleukin 13 (IL13). In order to achieve specific targeting of the IL13R in gliomas, we have mutagenized human (h) IL13. The mutation was made to alter IL13 interaction with the shared functional IL13/4 normal tissue receptor, but not with the glioma-associated receptor. We have thus produced hIL13.E13K (glutamic acid at position 13 changed to lysine) and fused it to derivatives of Pseudomonas exotoxin A. The hIL13.E13K-based cytotoxins are less active on normal cells and thus less toxic, and are better antitumor agents compared with the cytotoxins containing nonmutagenized hIL13.