IL13

interleukin 13

5 disorders 2 untyped 2 no genetic record 1 susceptibility 5q31.1 gene with protein product

HGNC:5973 Monarch NCBI Gene 3596 ENSG00000169194 UniProt P35225 OMIM 147683

Aliases: P600, IL-13, ALRH, BHR1, MGC116786, MGC116788, MGC116789.

Normal function · from ai-gene-review (P35225, commit 79fe13b38970) · AI-generated, not KB evidence

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a secreted four-alpha-helix bundle cytokine of the IL-4/IL-13 family, produced primarily by Th2 cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), with additional contributions from mast cells and basophils. IL-13 signals through the type II IL-4 receptor (IL-13Ralpha1/IL-4Ralpha heterodimer) to activate JAK1/TYK2 kinases and predominantly STAT6 transcription factor. It drives hallmark type-2 immune programs including mucus metaplasia (goblet cell hyperplasia, MUC5AC induction), IgE class switching (in cooperation with IL-4), subepithelial fibrosis, airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness, and epithelial barrier dysregulation. IL-13 also binds IL-13Ralpha2, a high-affinity decoy/scavenger receptor that limits signaling. IL-13 is central to the pathogenesis of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis, and is the target of therapeutic antibodies (tralokinumab, lebrikizumab) and the dual IL-4/IL-13 blocker dupilumab.

IL-13 binds the type II IL-4 receptor complex (IL-13Ralpha1/IL-4Ralpha) with sequential assembly -- first binding IL-13Ralpha1, then recruiting IL-4Ralpha. Also binds the high-affinity decoy receptor IL-13Ralpha2, which mediates ligand clearance. This is the primary molecular function of IL-13 as a signaling ligand.

molecular function: interleukin-13 receptor binding · directly involved in: interleukin-13-mediated signaling pathway; cell surface receptor signaling pathway via JAK-STAT; inflammatory response · locations: extracellular region

IL-13 functions as a secreted type-2 cytokine of the four-alpha-helix bundle family. It acts on non-hematopoietic structural cells (epithelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle) and immune cells (B cells, macrophages, eosinophils) to drive type-2 immune programs including IgE class switching, mucus metaplasia, and alternative macrophage activation.

molecular function: cytokine activity · directly involved in: positive regulation of immunoglobulin production; macrophage activation; positive regulation of lung goblet cell differentiation; negative regulation of lung ciliated cell differentiation; positive regulation of B cell proliferation · locations: extracellular region

In the knowledge base · computed from kb/ at build time

Disorders

Relationship is the entry's genetic[].relationship_type. untyped means the entry has a genetic record for the gene but does not type it; its free-text association is shown instead.

Disorder	Relationship	Where the gene appears
Rosacea	susceptibility
Asthma	untyped Associated	mechanism: Type 2 Immune Response / Th2 Signaling discussion: (unnamed)
Atopic Dermatitis	untyped Associated	mechanism: Type 2 Immune Response
Eosinophilic Esophagitis	no genetic record	mechanism: Epithelial Type II IL-4 Receptor Signaling; Type 2 Immune Activation
Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid	no genetic record	mechanism: IL-13-Producing T Cell Infiltration of the Conjunctiva

Identity from HGNC (snapshot 2026-10-01). Page layers are described in the gene pages documentation.