Interleukin-13 receptor
Encyclopedia
The interleukin-13 receptor is a type I cytokine receptor
Type I cytokine receptor
Type I cytokine receptors are transmembrane receptors expressed on the surface of cells that recognize and respond to cytokines with four α-helical strands. These receptors are also known under the name hemopoietin receptors, and share a common amino acid motif in the extracellular portion...

, binding Interleukin-13. It consists of two subunits, encoded by IL13RA1
IL13RA1
Interleukin 13 receptor, alpha 1, also known as IL13RA1 and CD213A1 , is a human gene....

 and IL4Rα, respectively. These two genes encode the proteins IL-13Rα1 and IL-4Rα. These form a dimer with IL-13 binding to the IL-13Rα1 chain and IL-4Rα stabilises this interaction. This IL-13 receptor can also instigate IL-4 signalling. In both cases this occurs via activation of the Janus Kinase (JAK
Jak
Jak may refer to:*JAK, Jazakomu Allahu Khayran *JAK members bank, a Swedish interest-free bank*Janus kinase, an intracellular signaling molecule; component of the JAK-STAT signal system...

)/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT
STAT protein
The STAT protein regulates many aspects of growth, survival and differentiation in cells...

) pathway, resulting in phosphorylation
Phosphorylation
Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a protein or other organic molecule. Phosphorylation activates or deactivates many protein enzymes....

 of STAT6
STAT6
STAT6 is a human gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the STAT family of transcription factors.In response to cytokines and growth factors, STAT family members are phosphorylated by the receptor associated kinases, and then form homo- or heterodimers that translocate to the cell...

. Phosphorylated STAT6 dimerises and acts as a transcription factor activating many genes, such as eotaxin
Eotaxin
Eotaxin may refer to:* CCL11 * CCL24 * CCL26...

.

There is also another receptor that can bind IL-13: IL-13Rα2 encoded by the IL13RA2
IL13RA2
Interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 , also known as CD213A2 , is a membrane bound protein that in humans is encoded by the IL13RA2 gene.- Function :...

gene. This binds IL-13 with very high affinity (and can therefore sequester it) but does not allow IL-4 binding. It acts as a negative regulator of both IL-13 and IL-4, however the mechanism of this is still undetermined.
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