The IL-4-IL-4Rα axis modulates olfactory neuroimmune signaling to induce loss of smell.

Hara, Yannis; Jha, Mithilesh Kumar; Huang, Jeremy Y; Han, Yingnan; Langohr, Ingeborg M; Gaglia, Giorgio; Zhu, Cheng; Piepenhagen, Peter et al. · Allergy · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

IL-4 and IL-13 have non-redundant effects in olfaction, with loss of smell in mice evoked only by intranasal administration of IL-4, but not IL-13. IL-4-evoked pathophysiological effects on olfaction is independent of compromised structural integrity of the olfactory neuroepithelium. IL-4-IL-4Rα signaling modulates neuronal crosstalk with immune cells, suggesting a functional link between olfactory impairment and neuroinflammation. Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; KO, knock-out; wk, week; WT, wild-type.

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