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. 1994 Apr 1;179(4):1349–1353. doi: 10.1084/jem.179.4.1349

Induction of interleukin 4 (IL-4) expression in T helper (Th) cells is not dependent on IL-4 from non-Th cells

PMCID: PMC2191446  PMID: 8145047

Abstract

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is essential for the induction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses in mice. Recent in vitro studies have suggested that IL- 4 derived from non T helper (Th) cells, in particular from mast cells and basophils, may be essential for triggering of IL-4 expression in Th cells and may directly contribute to IgE isotype switch induction. Here, we have generated mice carrying a functional IL-4 gene only in Th cells or non-Th cells, respectively, by reconstitution of IL-4- deficient mice (IL-4T mice) with CD4+ or CD4- spleen cells from congenic wild-type animals. In mice in which only CD4+ cells are able to express IL-4, antigen-specific IgE is produced in a T cell-dependent immune response. Thus, induction of IL-4 expression in Th cells can occur in the absence of IL-4 from non-Th cells, which suggests that at least some Th cells can express IL-4 in response to another signal which has yet to be identified. No IgE is detectable, however, in mice in which only CD4- cells can express IL-4, suggesting that Th cells are the primary, if not the only source of IL-4 for initial induction of IgE synthesis.

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Selected References

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