Interleukin 4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated T lymphocytes, CD3+ cells, NK-T cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils.
Interleukin 4 has multiple immune response modulation functions on a variety of cell types. It is an important regulator of isotype switching, inducing IgE production in B lymphocytes. It is an important modulator of the differentiation of precursor T helper cells to the TH2 subset that mediates humoral immunity and modulates antibody production. In addition, Interleukin 4 has also been shown to have antitumor activity both in vivo and in vitro.
Cytokines have emerged as molecules of importance in the regulation of many immunologic processes in the cell. The ability to accurately measure QN and QL differences in cytokine production is becoming increasingly important to the understanding of normal and pathological processes.
The interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a cytokine that induces differentiation of naive helper T cells (Th0 cells) to Th2 cells. Upon activation by IL-4, Th2 cells subsequently produce additional IL-4 in a positive feedback loop. The cell that initially produces IL-4, thus inducing Th0 differentiation, has not been identified, but recent studies suggest that basophils may be the effector cell. It is closely related and has functions similar to Interleukin 13.
IL-4 also has been shown to drive mitogenesis, dedifferentiation, and metastasis in rhabdomyosarcoma. IL-4, along with other Th2 cytokines, is involved in the airway inflammation observed in the lungs of patients with allergic asthma.
References:
Okada H, Banchereau J, Lotze MT. Interleukin-4. In: Thomson AW, Lotze MT, eds. Cytokine Handbook. Vol 1, 4th ed. San Diego, Calif: Academic Press; 2003: 227-262
Sokol, C.L., Barton, G.M., Farr, A.G. & Medzhitov, R. (2008). “A mechanism for the initiation of allergen-induced T helper type 2 responses”. Nat Immunol 9 (3): 310–318. doi:10.1038/ni1558. PMID 18300366.
Walter MR, Cook WJ, Zhao BG, Cameron RP, Ealick SE, Walter RL, Reichert P, Nagabhushan TL, Trotta PP, Bugg CE (October 1992). “Crystal structure of recombinant human interleukin-4”. J. Biol. Chem. 267 (28): 20371–6. PMID 1400355.
Yokota T, Otsuka T, Mosmann T, Banchereau J, DeFrance T, Blanchard D, De Vries JE, Lee F, Arai K. Isolation and characterization of a human interleukin cDNA clone, homologous to mouse B-cell stimulatory factor 1, that expresses B-cell- and T-cell-stimulating activities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Aug;83(16):5894-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.16.5894. PMID: 3016727; PMCID: PMC386403.
Interleukin 4, Serum
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