Recently, it was found that IL-13 is involved in allergic inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in in vivo animal models. However, the role of IL-13 in in vitro cellular models has yet to be determined. This study aimed to investigate the direct effect of IL-13 on mucin gene expression and mucin secretion in cultured normal human nasal epithelial cells. After treatment with IL-13, total mucin and MUC5AC mucin levels were measured using an immunoblotting assay. MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC8 mRNA expression were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Also, immunostaining was performed using a MUC5AC antibody on histologic and cytospin slides. After treatment with S 5 ng/ml IL-13, the level of total mucin and MUC5AC mucin secretion decreased substantially. The expression of MUC2 and MUC8 mRNA increased with higher concentrations of IL-13, but the expression of MUC5AC mRNA decreased. On the 7th day after IL-13 treatment, a significant decrease in the number of MUC5AC-positive cells was confirmed by immunostaining. These findings indicate that IL-13 suppresses MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin secretion in cultured normal human nasal epithelial cells in vitro .

A new silicon based multi chip white LED PKG for high power application is designed, fabricated and tested. The package is composed of Al layer coated reflector cup, silicon base which has micro through via hole for interconnection, and micro lens. Compared to the most conventional single chip LED PKG, multi chip white LED PKG has many advantages in cost, density, size, thermal resistance and optical efficiency. After numerical analysis, silicon based multi chip LED PKG which has 9 mm times 9 mm with 0.65 mm size is fabricated using simple MEMS technology. The thermal resistance of this new silicon package was about 4-5 K/W from junction to case in simulation and this result could be comparable to that of other high power LED package. Also, this PKG platform has over than 60% increase in optical extraction efficiency. The proposed multi chip LED PKG can find applications, such as a next generation solid state lighting, back light units and etc.