Interleukin IL-4 and IL-13 are two key cytokines released from activated T helper type 2 Th2 cells and strongly associated with asthma and allergic disease. We applied silencing of the IL-4 and IL-13 gene expression by RNA interference delivered by a lentiviral vector to evaluate the therapeutic role of IL-4 and IL13 short hairpin RNAs shRNAs in a murine model of asthma. Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin OVA, and one treatment of IL-4 and IL-13 shRNA lentiviral vector Lenti-si-IL-4 and Lenti-si-IL-13 was instilled intratracheally 48 hr before challenge. After three challenges of OVA antigen, mice were assessed for airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. With infection of Lenti-si-IL-4 and Lenti-si-IL-13 in EL-4 cells, both RNA and protein expressions of IL-4 and IL-13 were obviously abrogated. Furthermore, intratracheal instillation of Lenti- si-IL-4 and Lenti-si-IL-13 in OVA-immunized mice resulted in a strong inhibition of local IL-4 and IL-13 cytokine release. Treatment with Lenti-si-IL-4 and Lenti-si-IL-13 successfully alleviated OVA-induced airway eosinophilia and Th2 cell cytokine release. Finally, to determine airway hyperresponsiveness by enhanced pause and pulmonary resistance in noninvasive and invasive body plethysmography, we found that administration of Lenti-si-IL-4 and Lenti-si- IL-13 markedly decreased airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA- immunized mice. These results suggest that inhibition of IL- 4 and IL-13 gene expression by shRNA lentiviral vector markedly inhibits antigen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice. ; 醫學系小兒科 ; 醫學系 ; 醫學院 ; 期刊論文